Stocks rose Wednesday, adding to their recent momentum as expectations for lower U.S. Federal Reserve rates continue driving the major indexes to all-time highs. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, reaching fresh record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1250 points, or 0.6%. AMD popped more than 5% to lead gains in tech. Apple also advanced about 1%, along with Oracle. Those moves followed a record-setting session Tuesday sparked by a tamer-than-expected inflation report that gave investors hope of a Fed rate cut in September. Traders...
The dollar index slipped to around 107.2 on Monday, ending a three-day winning streak, as the euro strengthened following renewed optimism about a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that European leaders had agreed to draft a peace plan to present to Washington, just days after he was unable to reach a deal with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The dollar also lost some ground after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated on Sunday that tariffs against Mexico and Canada remain "fluid," suggesting they...
Gold rose to around $2,870 per ounce on Monday, as concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump tariff policies prompted safe-haven flows into bullion. Trump's proposed tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods, set to take effect on March 4, alongside an additional 10% duty on Chinese goods, have fueled concerns over potential retaliatory measures and broader trade tensions. The inflationary impact of these actions also supports gold, which is often seen as a hedge against rising prices. Adding to its appeal, the U.S. dollar retreated from a two-week high, making the metal less expensive for...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) halted its six-day losing streak on Monday, buoyed by a weaker US Dollar (USD) following the release of January's Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation data on Friday. The report aligned with expectations, easing fears of unexpected inflation spikes in the US. Australia's TD-MI Inflation Gauge fell by 0.2% month-over-month in February, reversing a 0.1% rise in January. This marked the first decline since last August and followed the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to cut its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.1% during its first monetary...
TariffsOil gained at the start of the week ahead of planned tariffs by the Trump administration on major US trading partners including China, which raises the prospect of retaliatory measures and market volatility. Brent climbed above $73 a barrel after posting the biggest monthly loss since September, while West Texas Intermediate futures traded near $70. The levies on China, Mexico and Canada, which are scheduled to start on Tuesday, may yet be delayed, but any reprieve would likely be temporary. President Donald Trump's threats to implement sweeping tariffs on a number of...
Gold rises in early Asian trade. Goldman Sachs Research forecasts that gold will continue climbing up to $3,100/oz by the end of the year, supported by higher-than-expected central bank demand, says analyst Lina Thomas in a report. Policy uncertainty and tariff fears could also result in speculators holding their net long positions in gold for longer as a haven asset, Thomas adds, though this could be short-lived if investors become more confident about the economic and political environment. Spot gold is 0.4% higher at $2,868.21/oz. Source : Dow Jones Newswires