The US dollar (USD) weakened on Friday (July 18th), retreating from a three-week high as momentum waned. However, the greenback remained supported by strong US economic data released this week, which has reduced the likelihood of an immediate interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, fell about 0.36%, approaching 98.30 in the European session on Friday. This decline came after the index hit a three-week high on Thursday, briefly approaching 99.00. This week's US data has reinforced the...
European equity markets are set to open little changed on Friday after hitting record highs in the previous session, supported by strong earnings and a favorable policy environment. On Thursday, the European Central Bank cut its main deposit rate by 25 basis points, as expected, and signaled that further cuts could follow. Recent data showed that the euro zone economy unexpectedly stalled in the last quarter, led by contractions in Germany and France. On the corporate side, Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter sales, which rose 16% to $13.2...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Friday (1/31), as gains in the Rubber, Transportation and Glass sectors boosted shares. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.34%. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were NEC Corp. (TYO:6701), which rose 18.38% or 2,410.00 points to trade at 15,525.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (TYO:9531) gained 7.04% or 289.00 points to close at 4,392.00 and JTEKT Corp. (TYO:6473) gained 6.39% or 73.50 points to 1,224.00 at the close. The worst performers on the session were Hino Motors, Ltd. (TYO:7205), which plunged 12.24% or 71.10...
The Nikkei 225 Index edged up 0.15% to around 39,570, while the broader Topix Index gained 0.3% to 2,790 on Friday, marking a third consecutive day of gains for Japanese shares as investors responded positively to strong economic data. Retail sales in Japan exceeded expectations in December, and industrial production returned to growth. The country's unemployment rate also dropped to 2.4% in January, down from 2.5% in the previous two months, defying forecasts of no change. Local stocks also drew support from a positive lead on Wall Street, where solid earnings from major US tech companies...
Stocks wavered on Thursday after President Donald Trump reiterated his tariff threats. The Dow Jones Industrial Average popped 168 points, or 0.4%. At its session highs, it had added nearly 300 points. The S&P 500 rose 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.3%. Stocks cut gains late in the session after President Donald Trump announced his intention to implement 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico.Elsewhere, Wall Street digested recent quarterly results from a slew of megacap tech companies. Shares of Meta Platforms and Tesla respectively added 1% and 3%, while...
Europe's benchmark index closed at a record high on Thursday, led by real estate stocks, as investors priced in more monetary policy easing by the European Central Bank this year and assessed a mixed bag of corporate results.The ECB lowered borrowing costs by an expected 25 basis points to 2.75% and kept the door open to further policy easing as concerns over lacklustre economic growth superseded worries about persistent inflation.The decision came on the heels of data showing the euro zone economy unexpectedly stagnated last quarter. Traders now expect about 70 bps worth of rate cuts by...
European stock markets rose on Thursday, as investors digested a flood of corporate earnings ahead of the European Central Bank's latest policy decision and the release of regional growth data. At 3:05 a.m. ET (08:05 GMT), Germany's DAX was up 0.2%, France's CAC 40 was up 0.3% and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.1%. European equities benefited on Thursday from a rise in U.S. stock futures after the release of quarterly results from a number of megatech companies after the previous session's close, following the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged. However, attention...
Japanese stocks edged higher after the close on Thursday (1/30), as gains in the Communications, Electrical/Machinery and Manufacturing sectors helped stocks advance. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was up 0.03%. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were CyberAgent Inc (TYO:4751), which rose 4.94% or 56.00 points to close at 1,190.00. Meanwhile, DeNA Co Ltd (TYO:2432) gained 4.33% or 117.00 points to close at 2,820.00 and Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd (TYO:4506) gained 3.66% or 21.00 points to close at 594.00. The worst performers on the session were Japan Exchange Group Inc...
The Nikkei 225 Index slipped 0.1% to just below 39,400, while the broader Topix Index dropped 0.2% to 2,770 on Thursday, paring gains from the previous session. The declines mirrored losses on Wall Street overnight, following the Federal Reserve's decision to pause its rate-cutting cycle and its acknowledgment that inflation remains "somewhat elevated." Investor sentiment was also impacted by mixed earnings from major US tech companies, including Tesla, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. Notable losses were seen in companies such as Sumitomo Mitsui (-1.3%), SoftBank Group (-1%), Keyence...
Gold (XAU/USD) is extending its decline on Wednesday for a second consecutive day as the US Dollar (USD) and US Treasury yields firm ahead of the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)...
Oil extended declines after OPEC+ agreed to a bigger-than-expected production increase next month, raising concerns about oversupply just as US tariffs fan fears about the demand outlook.
Brent...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened against its US counterpart and reversed part of Friday's recovery from the lowest level since July 23 following Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda's remarks....