Gold steadied and was set for a moderate weekly loss as investors assessed the outlook for Federal Reserve rate cuts after resilient US jobs and retail data eased concerns about the economy. Bullion traded below $3,340 an ounce, heading for a 0.5% drop on the week. That came after data that showed applications for unemployment benefits fell for a fifth straight week to the lowest level since mid-April, and advancing retail sales in June. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said it's reasonable for policymakers to plan on two interest-rate cuts this year, emphasizing that the central bank...
US stocks closed at record highs on Friday driven by optimism over pending trade agreements and rising expectations for interest rate cuts, as investors looked past President Donald Trump's comments about halting trade talks with Canada. The S&P 500 gained 0.5%, closing above its February peak, while the Nasdaq 100 also advanced 0.5% to a new high. The Dow Jones rose by 432 points. Earlier in the day, markets surged on encouraging news of trade progress with key partners, including a framework agreement with China. Although Trump's unexpected remarks on Canada briefly dented sentiment,...
European stocks posted their biggest weekly gain since mid-May on optimism that the European Union and the US can clinch some form of trade agreement in the coming weeks. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 1.1% by the close, with automakers and consumer products stocks outperforming. It advanced 1.3% for the week, the most in six weeks. Sportswear companies Adidas AG and Puma SE rose after US peer Nike Inc.'s fourth-quarter revenue beat expectations and it said a yearlong sales decline is starting to ease. Bloomberg reported that European Commission President Ursula von...
US stocks reached new peaks on Friday as optimism of relaxed trade policy and confidence about rate cuts by the Federal Reserve outweighed pessimistic economic data. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 inched 0.3% higher to a new record while the Dow gained 200 points. Commerce Secretary Lutnick stated that the US reached a trade agreement with China, consolidating the relief of lower tariffs and preventing rare earth shortages. Officials also hinted at progress in trade deals with ten other countries, suggesting that the White House grew some aversion to trade barriers. In turn, the...
The Hang Seng lost 41 points or 0.2% to close at 24,284 on Friday, marking a second session of drop after a brief rise in morning trade. Sentiment turned cautious after data showed that China's industrial output slumped 9.1% yoy in May, the first fall in three months, dragging year-to-date output down 1.1% amid deflation risks and tariff uncertainty. Traders were also worried ahead of June PMI data in China next week from official and private sources. Property stocks dipped, with losses from China Overseas Land (-3.9%), Henderson Land (-2.3%), and Longfor Group (-1.8%). Pharma names such as...
European stocks rose on Friday as investors assessed signs of easing trade tensions between the United States and China, raising hopes of a further trade deal before a U.S. tariff pause deadline is lifted in July. The pan-European STOXX 600 index, which opened up 0.6 percent at 540.67 points, as of 0707 GMT. It was on track for its first weekly gain in three weeks. Other major regional indexes also traded higher. The United States has reached a deal with China on how to speed up shipments of rare earths to the United States, a White House official said on Thursday. With concerns about...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Friday (6/27), as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors boosted shares. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 1.42% to hit a fresh 3-month high. The best performer on the Nikkei 225 was Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (TYO:5713), which rose 6.87% or 232.00 points to trade at 3,610.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd (TYO:4506) rose 6.62% or 61.00 points to close at 983.00 and Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd (TYO:5101) gained 6.42% or 235.00 points to close at 3,897.00. The worst performers on the session were...
Hong Kong stocks edged up 25 points, or 0.1%, to 24,348 in early trade on Friday, following losses in the previous session, largely supported by gains in consumer stocks. An overnight rally on Wall Street lifted sentiment after the S&P 500 closed near a record. The White House's efforts to play down a looming July tariff deadline also helped calm investor nerves. However, the upside momentum was capped by caution ahead of the release of the US PCE index, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, due later in the day. Meanwhile, recent data showed a slight annual decline in China's industrial...
The Nikkei 225 rose 1.3% to around 40,100 on Friday, while the broader Topix index gained 1.1% to 2,835, as Japanese equities rose to multi-month highs after a strong session on Wall Street. Market sentiment improved after the White House downplayed the urgency of an upcoming tariff deadline, easing investor concerns about a protracted trade war. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt indicated the deadline was flexible and could be extended. Meanwhile, investors weighed fresh data showing Tokyo's core inflation slowed in June but remained well above the Bank of Japan's 2% target, maintaining...
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....