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 Nasdaq fell on Monday, while the benchmark S&P 500 bounced off a two-month low and eked out a slight gain as U.S. Treasury yields stayed elevated with investors dialing back expectations on the pace of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Recent economic data have indicated a resilient economy with nagging price pressures, which has pressured equities. Comments from Fed officials have pushed bond yields higher. The S&P 500 had weekly losses in four of the last five weeks. Promised tariffs from President-elect Donald Trump have also fueled worries about inflation. Treasury...
All major European stock markets fell on Monday amid rising government bond yields and a surging U.S. dollar. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index ended the day 0.55% lower, with most sectors in negative territory. It's the second day of losses for investors in the FTSE 100 and CAC 40 while Germany's DAX has fallen for four consecutive days in a row. The Netherlands-headquartered Redcare Pharmacy was among the biggest losers for the day. The company's shares lost nearly a tenth of their value after German retailer dm-drogerie markt last week announced plans to become a competitor in the...
US stocks were lower on Monday, with the S&P 500 down 0.8%, the Dow Jones losing 80 points, and the Nasdaq dropping 1.4%, extending last week's losses. Investor sentiment has been weighed down by rising Treasury yields, driven by expectations of fewer Fed rate cuts this year and concerns over potential inflationary pressures from the incoming Trump administration's policies. Tech and communication services were the worst performing sectors while energy outperformed buoyed by rising oil prices following new US sanctions on Russia. Shares of Apple were down 2.4% after Counterpoint...
European markets opened lower on Monday, amid persisting jitters over the global economy. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was 0.4% lower shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors in negative territory. Regional markets closed lower last Friday, as investors reacted to the latest U.S. jobs data that showed nonfarm payrolls were up by 256,000 last month — much more than the 155,000 forecast by economists polled by Dow Jones. The data subdued sentiment among global markets as it raised concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve would proceed with caution when it comes to further interest...
The Hang Seng dipped 190 points or 1.0% to close at 18,874 on Monday, marking its sixth session of declines amid a marked fall in US futures, as a strong US payrolls report pushed up bond yields and reduced hopes for further interest rate cuts. The index fell to its lowest in nearly four months, with widespread losses across sectors following the third straight fall in mainland markets, which edged closer to a bear market. However, the index pared some of its earlier losses after PBoC Governor Pan Gongsheng said China would promote consumption in the economy. He also mentioned that the...
Asia-Pacific markets traded lower Monday, after U.S. jobs report on Friday dampened investors' hopes for early interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.6%, trading below 19,000 for the first time since last September, data from LSEG showed. Mainland China's benchmark CSI 300 dropped 0.75%, having closed at its lowest level since September 2024 on Friday. China is slated to release its December trade data later in the day, while India is expected to report its inflation numbers. Japan markets are closed for a holiday. South Korea's Kospilost 0.85% while...
U.S. stocks sold off on Friday, with the S&P 500 erasing its 2025 gains, after an upbeat jobs report stoked fresh inflation fears, reinforcing bets that the Federal Reserve will be cautious in cutting interest rates this year. Wall Street's main indexes closed their second consecutive week in the red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), fell 696.75 points, or 1.63%, to 41,938.45, the S&P 500 (.SPX), lost 91.21 points, or 1.54%, to 5,827.04 and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), lost 317.25 points, or 1.63%, to 19,161.63. The domestically focused small-cap Russell 2000 index...
The STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 fell nearly 1% on Friday, driven lower by a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report that reinforced the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on future rate cuts. This, combined with inflation concerns, the ongoing UK debt market crisis, and uncertainty over President-elect Trump's potential tariff policies, weighed heavily on investor sentiment. Most sectors and bourses were in the red, with utilities and food & beverage stocks dropping 2.3%, while autos were the exception, rising 0.48%. Major companies like LVMH (-0.7%), SAP (-0.9%), and ASML Holding (-1.3%)...
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....