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...
The S&P 500 rose to within a whisker of a new record Thursday, the culmination of a stunning comeback from lows set in April as the benchmark overcame a wall of worries that included tariff fights, wars and sticky inflation. The broad market index climbed 0.8% to close at 6,141.02, bringing its gain on the week to 2.9% and putting it just a few points away from the intraday all-time high hit in late February of 6,147.43. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.97% to 20,167.91, itself inches away from a new record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 404.41 points, or 0.94%, to...
The Stoxx Europe 600 index provisionally rose by 0.1%. Regionally, the FTSE 100 was higher by 0.2% and Germany's DAX was up 0.6%. France's CAC 40 bucked the trend by closing flat. Within the Stoxx 600 index, miners Anglo American and Antofagasta were among the biggest gainers, alongside defense giants Rheinmetall, Saab and Hensoldt Balfour Beatty shares rose 2.7% after the company said it won a £833 million contract to help build the world's first gas-fired power station for Net Zero Teeside Power, a joint venture between BP and Equinor. The British construction firm said that the...
US stocks edged higher on Thursday, with the S&P 500 rising 0.4% to approach record levels, the Nasdaq 100 adding 0.5% to surpass the fresh high topped the day before and the Dow Jones adding more than 200 points, supported by growing expectations that the Fed may cut interest rates sooner than previously anticipated. The WSJ reported that President Trump is considering announcing his nominee for the next Fed Chair early, potentially installing a "shadow" chair who could push for a more dovish policy stance. Meanwhile, fresh economic data showed the US economy contracted more than...
The Hang Seng dropped 149 points or 0.6% to 24,325 on Thursday, snapping the four-day winning streak and retreating from a three-month high amid broad losses and profit-taking. Investor caution resurfaced on worries that Wall Street's recent rally may have outpaced economic fundamentals, especially with persistent macro and geopolitical risks. On Capitol Hill, Fed Chair Powell stated the Fed remains cautious in evaluating how tariffs are influencing consumer prices. Pharma stocks weighed heavily on the index, with sharp declines in Innovent Biologics (-4.5%), Wuxi Biologics (-2.7%), and...
European stocks edged up on Thursday, helped by signs that an Israel-Iran ceasefire appears to be holding, while U.S. President Donald Trump's latest criticism of the Federal Reserve chairman revived concerns over the central bank's independence. The pan-European STOXX 600 index opened up 0.3% at 538.75 points, as of 0707 GMT. Other major regional indexes were also trading higher. On Wednesday, Trump called Fed Chairman Jerome Powell "terrible" and said he had three or four people in mind as contenders for the Fed's top job. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has been toying with...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Thursday (6/26), as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors boosted shares. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 1.66% to hit a fresh 3-month high. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Ebara Corp. (TYO:6361), which rose 9.84% or 239.00 points to trade at 2,667.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:6770) rose 5.62% or 82.50 points to close at 1,551.50 and SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:6770) gained 1.66% or 23.00 points to close at 2,667.50. (TYO:9984) rose 5.52% or 514.00 points to 9,830.00 at the close. The...
Hong Kong shares fell 103 points, or 0.4%, to 24,371 on Thursday morning, snapping a four-day rally as traders took profits after the market hit a three-month high. Sentiment was further dampened by Fed Chair Powell's cautious stance on inflation and tariffs during his second day of congressional testimony, though he hinted that a rate cut could be considered if current pressures prove temporary. However, Wall Street's record highs helped limit sharper losses. On the geopolitical front, President Trump announced upcoming U.S.-Iran talks amid a tenuous ceasefire. In China, Premier Li Qiang...
Asia-Pacific markets were mostly down on Thursday, as investors continued to weigh the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1.04% and the Topix gained 0.32%. South Korea's Kospi fell 1.81%, while the small-cap Kosdaq dropped 2%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.21%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.72%, and the CSI 300 dropped 0.31%. U.S. futures were largely unchanged. S&P 500 futures traded around the flatline, as did Nasdaq 100 futures and futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell...
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....