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...
Japan stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Shipbuilding, Paper & Pulp and Non-Metal Minerals sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.47%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were M3 Inc (TYO:2413), which rose 19.27% or 268.00 points to trade at 1,659.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803) added 10.35% or 691.00 points to end at 7,366.00 and Taiheiyo Cement Corp. (TYO:5233) was up 9.89% or 381.00 points to 4,235.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Kuraray Co., Ltd....
European markets are heading for a positive open Wednesday as global markets await the latest inflation reading out of the U.S. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points higher at 8,785, Germany's DAX up 75 points at 22,104, France's CAC up 12 points at 8,042 and Italy's FTSE MIB 102 points higher at 37,798, according to data from IG. Global market focus is on the latest U.S. consumer price index report for January that will be published on Wednesday. Headline inflation is expected to have grown 0.3% from the prior month and 2.9% from 12 months earlier, according to Dow...
Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose Wednesday as investors digested U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff impact on regional economies. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, meanwhile, re-emphasized on Tuesday the central bank's focus on curbing inflation and signaled that policymakers were not in a rush to push interest rates lower. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded up 0.31%. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.21% after resuming trading following a holiday, while the Topix slid 0.22%. South Korea's Kospi added 0.29% and the small-cap Kosdaq lost 0.36%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 2.05% while...
Shares in Hong Kong soared 394 points or 1.8% to 21,685 in early trade on Wednesday, swinging from a 1.0% fall in the previous session amid solid gains across sectors. The Hang Seng touched its highest level in four months following a pledge from China's cabinet to spur spending and lure foreign investment ahead of an annual legislative gathering in March. In the US, Fed Chair Powell told Congress on Tuesday that the central bank is in no rush to cut borrowing costs and that it would be unwise to speculate on tariff policy at this time. Capping further gains was news that US President Trump...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.25% to 39,900, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.2% to 2,725 in mixed trading on Wednesday, as Japanese stocks struggled for direction following a one-day holiday. Market sentiment was influenced by mixed results on Wall Street, amid President Trump's latest tariff escalation and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments suggesting the central bank is in no rush to cut interest rates further. In Japan, investors turned their attention to upcoming economic data, with machinery tool orders due Wednesday and producer inflation data expected Thursday. Among...
Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled there was no urgency to cut rates. Powell on Tuesday re-emphasized the central bank's focus on curbing inflation and signaled that policymakers were not in a rush to push interest rates lower. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded around the flatline. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.71% after resuming trading following a holiday, while the Topix added 0.22% at the open. South Korea's Kospi slid 0.21% while the small-cap Kosdaq lost 0.36%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures were at 21,551, also stronger...
The S&P 500 posted a slight gain on Tuesday as investors digested cautious comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on interest rates. Concerns persisted over the direction of the economy amid U.S. tariffs and a possible escalation of the global trade war. The S&P 500 rose 0.03% to close at 6,068.50, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.36% to close at 19,643.86. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 123.24 points, or 0.28%, to 44,593.65. Apple rose 2.2% after The Information reported that the company is partnering with Alibaba to develop AI features for iPhone users in...
Stock futures in the US were mostly lower on Tuesday, with contracts on the S&P 500 losing 0.3%, the Dow Jones declining 90 points, and the Nasdaq 100 falling 0.5%, as traders digested the latest tariff news and awaited Fed Chair Powell's testimony to Congress for further insights into the Fed's plans for the year, as well as comments on inflation and trade policy from the new administration. President Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports with no exceptions or exemptions. Shares of steel and aluminum producers rose in premarket trading,...
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....