Silver climbed above $61 per ounce, extending a record rally as markets digested the Fed's 25 basis point cut and parsed Chair Powell's remarks which markets read as relatively dovish even as committee guidance remained cautious. The cut itself was largely priced in, but Powell's comments and a softer dollar lowered the opportunity cost of holding metal. At the same time the physical market has tightened materially which amplifies the policy impulse. ETF inflows and spot buying have surged this year and funds added large tonnes last week, while official and retail demand in Asia and India...
European stocks closed sharply lower on Wednesday, retreating from the previous session's record highs amid downbeat corporate earnings and trade tensions, while investors weighed up the potential for a European bond issue. The eurozone STOXX 600 fell 1.4% to close at 5,458 and the pan-European STOXX 600 dropped 1% to close at 552. Financials and consumer discretionary stocks were among the biggest losers, with Allianz, Munich RE, Santander, Hermes and Inditex all down nearly 3%. Carmakers also tumbled after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at tariffs on imported vehicles and parts....
US stocks were lower on Wednesday, with three major indexes slipping about 0.3%, as markets pulled back after the S&P 500 reached a record high in the previous session. Investor sentiment was weighed down by renewed concerns over trade tensions after President Donald Trump signaled he would likely impose 25% tariffs on automobile, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical imports, with an announcement expected as soon as April 2. Traders also awaited the release of the FOMC minutes later in the day for further insight into the Federal Reserve's policy outlook. In its January meeting, the...
The European stocks rally took a pause on Wednesday amid mixed earnings and after President Donald Trump's latest tariff threats stoked concern about a widening trade war. The Stoxx 600 Index fluctuated at the open after a gain of around 10% so far this year. Glencore Plc slipped after profit fell, while HSBC Holdings Plc posted better-than-expected earnings. A tech-led advance in Asia stumbled. US equity futures were steady. Trump brandished possible levies of around 25% on automobile, semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports, with an announcement...
The Hang Seng Index fell 0.1% at 22,944.24 in Hong Kong. The move follows the previous session's increase of 1.6%. Meituan contributed the most to the index decline, decreasing 3.0%. Hang Seng Bank Ltd. had the largest drop, falling 3.9%. Today, 38 of 83 shares fell, while 39 rose; 2 of 4 sectors were lower, led by commerce and industry stocks. Source: Bloomberg
European markets saw a mixed open on Wednesday as investors assessed numerous earnings releases and a hotter-than-expected U.K. inflation print. The regional Stoxx 600 index was 0.06% higher in early deals following Tuesday's record close, while sectors and bourses were a mix bag. Dutch healthcare technology group Philips dropped 7% at the open after missing sales growth expectations for the fourth quarter amid a double digit decline in China.Earnings on Wednesday come from BAE Systems,Glencore,Rio Tinto, Koninklijke Philips and Carrefour.Europe's largest lender HSBC earlier on...
Hong Kong equities fell 59 points or 0.3%, to 22,913 in early trade on Wednesday, retreating from the previous session's rally. Sentiment was weighed by a fresh threat from US President Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on automobile, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical imports. Additionally, some traders booked profits after the market hit a four-month high in the prior session. Limiting further losses, US futures edged higher following Wall Street's S&P 500 closing at a record high overnight. Meanwhile, China's new home prices fell 5.0% year-on-year in January, the mildest decline in...
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.2% to below 39,200 on Wednesday, ending a two-day rally as investors reacted to disappointing economic data. Core machinery orders in Japan, a key indicator of capital spending, unexpectedly dropped in December. Additionally, Japan reported a larger-than-expected trade deficit for January, with import growth outpacing exports. Investors also continued to monitor developments in global trade, as US President Donald Trump plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that tax US imports by April. In corporate news, Honda indicated its willingness to resume merger...
Asia-Pacific stocks were mostly down Wednesday, breaking ranks with Wall Street that saw the S&P 500 close at a record high as investors appeared to look past tariffs and inflation headwinds. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.62% while the broader Topix index was down 0.59% as the country reported a two-year high trade deficit. Business sentiment for Japanese manufacturers rose for the second month in February, results from the Reuters Tankan poll indicates. The manufacturers' sentiment index rose to plus 3 — its highest level since November — from plus 2 in January. Over in South...
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....