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...
European stocks rebounded on Friday after three sessions of declines, as the U.S. pause in Middle East conflicts eased investor concerns. The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.4 percent at 537.98 points by 0708 GMT. The benchmark index was on track for a second weekly decline. The Israeli-Iranian air war entered its second week and European officials are trying to get Tehran back to the negotiating table after President Donald Trump said any decision on potential U.S. involvement would be made within two weeks. The news lifted the market mood and helped restore appetite for riskier assets...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.22% to close at 38,403 on Friday, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.75% to 2,771, extending losses from the previous session as accelerating inflation raised concerns about tighter monetary policy. Japan's core inflation rate rose for a third straight month in May, hitting 3.7%—the highest level since January 2023—strengthening expectations that the Bank of Japan could continue its policy normalization efforts. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment, amid reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a possible strike on Iran, adding to market...
Hong Kong shares rose 165 points, or 0.7%, to 23,399 in early trading on Friday, snapping a three-day losing streak amid broad sector gains. The market recovered from a three-week low after China's central bank kept its main lending rate unchanged, as expected, following a record cut in May aimed at boosting the economy and offsetting the impact of rising U.S. tariffs. Sentiment was further boosted by hopes that China's top legislature could recommend fresh stimulus measures during the early July session. However, for the week, the Hang Seng is on track for its first decline in three terms,...
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% to above 38,600 on Friday, recovering some of the previous session's losses as investors digested Japan's latest inflation figures. Headline inflation eased slightly to 3.5% in May from 3.6% in the previous two months, the lowest level since November 2024. However, core inflation, which excludes fresh food but includes energy, rose for a third straight month to 3.7%, the highest since January 2023. This reinforced expectations that the Bank of Japan will continue to tighten monetary policy in response to persistent inflationary pressures. Externally, geopolitical...
Hong Kong stocks dropped sharply on Thursday after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned of "meaningful" inflation ahead, and investors grew concerned about potential US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. The Hang Seng Index lost 472.95 points, or 2.0%, to close at 23,237.74, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 183.25 points, or 2.1%, to 8,410.94. The US central bank left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and penciled in two cuts by the end of 2025. While the Fed expects two rate reductions in 2025, it trimmed its growth forecast and raised its inflation...
The STOXX 50 fell 0.7% to 5,230 points on Thursday, while the broader STOXX 600 dropped 0.6%, as market sentiment was dampened by ongoing tensions in the Middle East and concerns over potential U.S. involvement. Investors also reacted to the latest U.S. Federal Reserve decision. The conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate, with U.S. President Trump warning that the U.S. could potentially join Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. At the same time, Trump noted that Iranian officials have expressed interest in holding talks, while EU leaders are scheduled to engage in nuclear...
The Nikkei 225 fell 1.02% to close at 38,488 on Thursday, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.58% to 2,792, ending a three-day rally as rising geopolitical risks dampened investor sentiment. Market jitters mounted amid reports that the U.S. was preparing for a potential attack on Iran, raising concerns about broader instability in the Middle East. The selloff followed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged and maintain a cautious stance, citing inflation risks related to President Donald Trump's tariffs. On the domestic front, investors are turning their...
Hong Kong shares plunged 273 points, or 1.2%, to 23,438 in early trading on Thursday, marking a third straight decline and hovering near a two-week low. The selloff followed a sharp drop in U.S. stock futures after Fed Chair Powell sounded a cautious note on inflation, even as the central bank kept interest rates steady for a fourth straight meeting, as widely expected. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment, with concerns growing over the potential for direct U.S. involvement in the Middle East. In China, the People's Bank of China will hold its monthly lending rate decision,...
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....