Gold prices rose on Friday (July 18th), but were on track for a weekly decline as concerns about the US Federal Reserve's independence eased and strong US data emerged, while platinum rose to a nearly 11-year high. Spot gold rose 0.3% to $3,349.49 an ounce, as of 08:34 GMT, after falling 1.1% in the previous session. Bullion has fallen 0.2% so far this week. US gold futures fell 0.3% to $3,354.70. The US dollar, open a new tab, fell 0.4% for the day, but was headed for a second straight weekly gain. A stronger dollar tends to make gold more expensive for buyers holding other...
The Hang Seng soared 488 points or 2.1% to close at 24,177 on Tuesday, rising for the third session and reaching a two-week peak as all sectors advanced. Sentiment was lifted by a strong rebound in U.S. futures after President Trump announced a truce between Iran and Israel. On the policy front, Fed Vice Chair Bowman said the time to cut interest rates was nearing, citing growing risks to the labor market. Her remarks echoed Fed Governor Waller's comments on Friday, signaling a possible rate cut at the July 29–30 meeting. Investors now await Fed Chair Jerome Powell's testimony before...
The STOXX 50 jumped 1.7% and the STOXX 600 gained 1.1% on Tuesday after President Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which has been confirmed by both countries. If the truce holds, it would end 12 days of conflict, and send oil prices sharply lower, falling below levels seen before June 12, the day before Israel launched its attack. Meanwhile, investors turned their attention to a NATO summit starting today in The Hague, where leaders are expected to discuss security priorities given recent global tensions. Most sectors were trading in the green, with strong gains among...
The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.14% to close at 38,790 while the broader Topix index rose 0.73% to 2,781 on Tuesday, with Japanese stocks ending a three-day losing streak after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Investors largely shrugged off Iran's retaliatory attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, which caused no casualties, and took comfort in the fact that Iran avoided targeting the critical Strait of Hormuz, easing fears of a wider disruption to global oil supplies. On the trade front, Japanese negotiator Ryosei Akazawa reportedly planned...
Hong Kong stocks jumped 400 points, or 1.7%, to 24,091 in early trading on Tuesday, rising for a third straight session and hitting a one-week high. Sentiment was boosted by a rally in U.S. futures and easing geopolitical tensions after President Trump announced a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran, starting around midnight Monday, Washington time. The market also welcomed comments from Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman, who hinted at the possibility of an interest rate cut as early as July. In China, the top legislature, known as the NPC Standing Committee, will meet this week to...
Asia-Pacific markets rose on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iran and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire. "It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total Ceasefire… for 12 hours, at which point the War will be deemed OVER!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. However, neither Iran nor Israel has publicly confirmed that they have accepted Trump's ceasefire timetable. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1.59%, while the broader Topix index gained 1.32%. South Korea's Kospi jumped 2.09% and the small-cap Kosdaq index gained...
The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.3% to above 38,800 while the broader Topix index rose 1.2% to 2,794 on Tuesday, ending a three-day losing streak after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, calling the conflict the "12-Day War." Investors also appeared to shrug off Tehran's retaliatory attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar that caused no casualties. Also, Iran avoided targeting the critical Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns about a wider disruption to global oil supplies. At home, investors continued to assess the Bank of Japan's monetary policy...
The European stock markets closed lower in Monday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 lost 0.19%, Germany's DAX was down 0.33%, the FTSE 100 was off 0.14%, France's CAC 40 slid 0.67%, and the Swiss Market Index declined 0.10%. The seasonally-adjusted HCOB Flash Composite PMI Output Index, which gauges the health of European manufacturing remained unchanged at 50.2 in June from May and registered above the 50 threshold indicating expansion for a sixth straight month. However, the expansion of business activity continues to be marginal. In the UK, the S&P Global UK Consumer Sentiment Index...
US stocks were near the flatline on Monday as downplayed concerns that the US strike on Iran may have on energy markets and future conflict in the Middle East. The S&P 500, the Dow Jones, and the Nasdaq 100 were all close to the flatline. US forces struck Iranian nuclear infrastructure over the weekend after US President Trump had dismissed the possibility of an imminent attack. While the Iranian vowed aggressive retaliation and its parliament backed the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, oil tankers so far continued to sail through the region and crude oil prices pared their increase,...
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....