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...
European markets opened in positive territory on Tuesday as investors digested the latest raft of tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump. While the pan-European Stoxx 600 index and Germany's Dax were mostly flat, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up by 0.22%. France's CAC also opened higher by 0.35%. Global markets started the week on a positive note, appearing to shrug off Trump's announcement over the weekend that he would impose a blanket 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports on Monday. Since the announcement was made yesterday evening, however, markets have taken a downturn,...
The Hang Seng dipped 227 points or around 1% to end at 21,295 on Tuesday, slipping for the first session in four amid a decline in US futures ahead of key US inflation data later this week. Sentiment was further dampened after President Trump signed an order Monday imposing a 25% tariff on steel imports and raising duties on aluminum from 10% to 25%, both effective from March 4. Most sectors fell, with tech sinking 2.7% and slipping for the third day, as optimism for AI and chip stocks waned. Capping further falls was Trump's statement that he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping...
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday as investors assessed U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff campaign.Trump on Monday signed an order imposing 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the U.S.Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded around the flatline.South Korea'sKospi rose 0.72%, while the small-cap Kosdaq climbed 0.35%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.56%, while the mainlan China's CSI 300 dipped 0.36%.Japan markets were closed for a holiday.Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index slipped 0.44% after it hit an all-time intraday high of 3,910.12 on Monday.India's...
The Hong Kong stock market fell by 92 points or 0.4% to 21,434 during Tuesday morning trading, marking its first drop in four sessions amid cautious sentiment following President Trump's announcement of a global 25% tariff on US imports of steel and aluminum, set to take effect on March 4. Markets retreated from their highest since early October, as traders adopted a vigilant stance ahead of this week's key US inflation data and Fed Chair Powell's testimony before Congress. Most sectors dropped, with tech, property, and consumers slipping the most. Further losses were capped by optimism...
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Tuesday, tracking gains on Wall Street that appeared to look past U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff campaign.Trump on Monday signed an order imposing 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the U.S.Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.24% higher. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.36%, while the small-cap Kosdaq traded around the flatline.Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures were at 21,576, slightly stronger than the HSI's last close of 21,521.98.Japan markets were closed for a holiday.Investors will also be keeping an eye on Singapore markets after the...
Stocks rose on Monday as major technology names outperformed to start the week, while traders shrugged off President Donald Trump's latest U.S. tariff threats. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was trading about 167 points higher, or nearly 0.4%, led by a roughly 4% gain in McDonald's. The S&P 500 was up 0.67%, and the Nasdaq Composite was up about 0.98%. Markets remained jittery on a mix of inflation concerns coupled with worries about how Trump's tariff plans could hurt the U.S. economy. Trump told reporters Sunday that he plans to announce a blanket tariff of 25% on all steel and...
US stocks were higher to kick off the week, with the S&P 500 rising 0.5%, the Nasdaq adding 0.7% and the Dow Jones gaining about 270 points, with traders digesting fresh tariffs and awaiting key economic data and Fed Chair Powell's testimony to Congress. President Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum into the US and said new reciprocal tariffs would also be announced this week. Steel-related companies got a boost on the news, namely Cleveland-Cliffs (14.2%), Nucor (6.2%), Steel Dynamics (4.3%), US Steel Corp (4%), and Alcoa...
The Hang Seng soared 388 points or 1.8% to end at 21,522 on Monday, rising for the third session and notching their highest level since early October amid widespread sector gains. Concerns about China's deflation notably eased after Sunday's data showed consumer inflation hit a 5-month high due to solid holiday spending. In addition, worries about trade row between China and the US waned, with many traders viewing US tariff threats as negotiation tactics. The tech index climbed over 2.5% on continued optimism around China's AI tech. Meanwhile, China's three largest telecom operators --...
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....