Gold (XAU/USD) Gold (XAU/USD) regains ground on Friday, edging modestly higher after earlier weakness, even as a resilient US Dollar (USD) caps upside momentum. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades around $4,345, recovering from a daily low near $4,309. The precious metal briefly surged toward record highs on Thursday after US inflation data undershot expectations. However, gains quickly faded as softer inflation lifted risk appetite across equity markets and pushed Gold back within the range established earlier this week. That said, the downside appears limited, as a dovish Federal...
Japanese shares rose on Wednesday as markets reopened following a one-day holiday. The Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% to around 35,900, while the broader Topix Index climbed 0.7% to 2,670, extending recent gains. Investor sentiment was buoyed by comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the US held "substantial talks" with Japan regarding a potential trade agreement. However, domestic data provided a mixed picture—industrial production declined more than expected in March, and retail sales growth fell short of forecasts. Attention now shifts to the Bank of Japan's upcoming policy...
U.S. stocks closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by reports that a major trade deal is nearing completion and corporate earnings. The S&P 500 rose 0.58%, posting its sixth straight gain and marking its longest winning streak since November. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 300 points, or 0.75%, its best gain since July, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.55%. Honeywell (+5.4%) and Sherwin-Williams (+4.9%) led the Dow after reporting strong quarterly results. General Motors fell 1.1%, after canceling its share buyback and withdrawing its outlook on possible tariffs while Amazon was...
European markets closed higher on Tuesday after investors pored over a raft of earnings for indications of the impact of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty. The Stoxx 600 index closed 0.4% higher, with utilities and health care leading gains. Regionally, the FTSE 100 closed up 0.6% — its 12th straight day of gains and its best gain in at least five years. France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX rose 0.1% and 0.8%, respectively. Volvo Cars shares fell 10% after the automaker reported a sharp drop in first-quarter profit and suspended its full-year guidance due to market headwinds....
US stocks were muted on Tuesday as markets assessed the latest earnings and the risks that tariffs and uncertain economic policy may have on corporate returns. The three main averages were close to the flatline. Trade and economic policy uncertainty drove UPS to refrain from giving a full-year outlook, pressuring their shares by 2%. Also, while GM sank 4% after it cancelled its share buyback and pulled its outlook due to the possibility of tariffs. Additionally, Amazon fell by 1% after stating it will list the additional surcharge on its goods due to tariffs, driving White House officials...
The Hang Seng rose 36 points or 0.2% to end at 22,008 on Tuesday, mainly helped by strength in tech and financials after a muted prior session. Markets trimmed early gains, amid caution ahead of April's official PMI data in China that will be due Wednesday. Investors continued to await more clarity on U.S. tariff plans and their potential impact on China. Beijing Monday held off on new stimulus but reiterated support for exporters and workers affected by U.S. tariffs and said contingency plans for the economy are in place. Meantime, mainland markets will be closed from May 1 for a 5-day...
European markets were mixed on Tuesday as investors assessed a wave of earnings for signs of how US tariffs and global uncertainty are affecting companies. The Stoxx 50 was down 0.2% while the Stoxx 600 rose 0.2%, though the autos sector slipped 0.4%, led by Volvo Cars, which reported a sharp drop in Q1 profit and suspended its full-year guidance. The Swedish automaker also announced SEK 18 billion ($1.87 billion) in cost cuts. Porsche fell 7.4% after cutting its sales and margin forecasts, citing US tariffs. In banking, HSBC beat Q1 estimates despite year-on-year declines in profit and...
Hong Kong equities rose 123 points or 0.6% to 22,095 in Tuesday's morning session, rebounding from a muted day as a modest rise in U.S. futures lifted sentiment. Gains came as investors awaited more earnings reports following a volatile Wall Street session overnight. China's commitment on Monday to aid exporters and workers impacted by U.S. tariffs continued to boost confidence, complemented by contingency plans aimed at bolstering the broader economy. On the trade front, Hong Kong's exports surged 18.5% yoy in March—the strongest growth in over a year and the highest value in three years—as...
Asia-Pacific markets had a sluggish open as investors awaited the extent of the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on corporate earnings and economic data expected from Wall Street this week. Market watchers were also closely monitoring developments surrounding trade deal negotiations between the U.S. and countries in the region. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 started the day 0.38% higher. Over in South Korea, the Kospi index was down 0.13% while the small-cap Kosdaq added 0.43%. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 21,999, pointing to a slightly higher...
Gold rises in the early Asian trade. There's a broad commodities uptrend, driven by macro uncertainty, a weaker dollar, and persistent demand for "hard" assets, says Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst...
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....