Oil prices stabilized on Thursday (February 12th), as the market reassigned a risk premium to US-Iran tensions despite US inventory data showing swelling domestic supplies. This movement confirms one thing: geopolitical headlines are still more "noise" than signals of a short-term surplus. As of 3:50 PM WIB, Brent was at $69.60/barrel (+0.29%) and WTI was at $64.83/barrel (+0.31%). The gains were moderate, but enough to keep prices near the psychological $70 level for Brent. From a geopolitical perspective, market focus is on the potential for escalation in the Middle East. Recent reports...
The S&P 500 rose on Monday as the benchmark tries to continue its comeback from correction territory following a four-week rout on Wall Street exacerbated by President Donald Trump's chaotic tariff policy rollout and falling consumer confidence. The broad market index gained 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 237 points, or 0.6%, bolstered by gains in Walmart and International Business Machines Helping sentiment was the February retail sales report, as traders breathed a sigh of relief that the figures weren't worse. Retail sales...
European stocks started the new trading week in positive territory, although investors will be looking to see if global market volatility continues. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was 0.1% higher shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors moving higher. European markets ended the week higher Friday after German lawmakers reportedly came closer to agreeing on reforming the country's so-called debt brake rule. Media reports said Germany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz had won support from the Greens party to hike public borrowing to allow an increase in defense...
Japan stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Power, Rubber and Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.95%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7011), which rose 12.17% or 311.00 points to trade at 2,867.00 at the close. Meanwhile, IHI Corp. (TYO:7013) added 9.70% or 1,045.00 points to end at 11,820.00 and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co (TYO:6305) was up 6.33% or 253.00 points to 4,250.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the...
Hong Kong equities jumped 375 points or 1.6% to 24,338 in Monday morning trading, extending gains for the second session. Optimism over China's newly announced "Special Action Plan to Boost Consumption," aimed at stimulating domestic demand, supported the rally. In addition, state media Xinhua said that Beijing also plans to stabilize the stock and real estate markets, boost the birth rate, and support inbound and domestic tourism. These comprehensive measures were unveiled on Sunday. On the economic data front, China's industrial output rose 5.9% yoy in the first two months of 2025,...
The Nikkei 225 Index surged 1.2% to above 37,400, while the broader Topix Index also gained 1.2% to 2,748 on Monday, with both benchmarks reaching their highest levels in over a week amid a broad market advance. Japanese shares mirrored a relief rally on Wall Street from Friday, as investors continued to assess evolving trade policies and broader economic uncertainties in the US. Market sentiment also received a boost after China unveiled a special action plan over the weekend, introducing measures to increase wages and stabilize stock and real estate markets. Leading the gains were index...
tocks rallied Friday, clawing back some of the steep losses seen over the week, as investors got a reprieve from tariff-related headlines. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 674.62 points, or 1.65%, to close at 41,488.19. The S&P 500 climbed 2.13% to end at 5,638.94, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.61% to settle at 17,754.09. It was the best day in 2025 for both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. Big tech shares that were rattled earlier this week saw a sharp recovery on Friday. Nvidia shares popped more than 5%. Tesla jumped nearly 4%, and Meta Platforms gained close to 3%. Amazon...
Stocks rallied Friday but remained on track for a sharp weekly decline as volatility continued to spread through Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was trading 501 points higher, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 was up 1.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 2.1%. Nvidia shares jumped more than 4%. Tesla and Meta Platforms rose more than 1% along with Netflix, Amazon and Apple. Sentiment on Wall Street got a boost Friday as it appeared a government shutdown was averted. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he would not block a Republican government funding bill. However,...
The Hang Seng Index rose 2.1% to 23,959.98 in Hong Kong, the biggest gain since a 3.3% gain on March 6 and following a 0.6% decline in the previous session. Meituan contributed the most to the index's gain, rising 5.4%. Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc. was the biggest gainer, rising 14.4%. On the day, 65 of 83 stocks rose, while 18 fell; three of four sectors rose, led by trade and industrial stocks. Source: Bloomberg
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....