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's Nikkei Stock Average is flat at 51063.78 as gains in financial shares offset losses in tech and energy stocks. Nomura Holdings is up 2.7% and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is 2.0% higher while SoftBank Group is down 2.2% and Eneos Holdings is 1.1% lower. Broader market index Topix is up 0.4% at 3372.55. USD/JPY is at 154.84, compared with 154.66 as of Wednesday's Tokyo stock market close. Investors are closely watching quarterly corporate results. Daiwa House Industry and SMC are scheduled to release their results later Thursday. Source: Dow Jones Newswires
US stocks rallied, with the Dow surging 410 points to a new record high, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted modest gains, as confidence grew that the prolonged government shutdown would end this week. The healthcare sector led the way, led by Eli Lilly (up 3%) and AbbVie (up 3.6%), reflecting steady earnings momentum in the sector. The financial sector also outperformed as buyers flocked to major banks, with Goldman Sachs (up 3.5%), JPMorgan (up 1.5%), and American Express (up 0.7%). Meanwhile, AMD (AMD) surprisingly rose with stronger projections, rising 9%, helping lift peers like...
US stocks were higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each up 0.2%, while the Dow Jones gained 250 points to notch a new record high. Sentiment was buoyed by optimism that the government shutdown could soon end, as House members return to Washington to vote on a deal to restore funding to federal agencies after the shutdown that began on October 1st. Traders also focused on a fresh round of corporate updates, with shares of AMD surging more than 8% after the company forecast faster sales growth, lifting the broader tech sector. Nvidia (+0.7%), Broadcom (+1%), and Qualcomm...
The Hang Seng rose 215 points or 0.8% to finish at 26,911 on Wednesday, increasing for the third consecutive session and reaching a one-month peak amid widespread gains across sectors. Sentiment strengthened after China's central bank pledged to keep an "appropriately loose" monetary stance, ensure ample liquidity, and promote policy transmission. An uptick in U.S. futures also lifted risk appetite as the record-long U.S. government shutdown appeared close to ending. Property shares led the rise, jumping over 3%, following Beijing's plan to expand private sector participation in...
The Hang Seng rose 215 points or 0.8% to finish at 26,911 on Wednesday, increasing for the third consecutive session and reaching a one-month peak amid widespread gains across sectors. Sentiment strengthened after China's central bank pledged to keep an "appropriately loose" monetary stance, ensure ample liquidity, and promote policy transmission. An uptick in U.S. futures also lifted risk appetite as the record-long U.S. government shutdown appeared close to ending. Property shares led the rise, jumping over 3%, following Beijing's plan to expand private sector participation in...
European stocks were higher on Wednesday, with the STOXX 50 up 0.6% and the STOXX 600 rising 0.4%, extending gains from the previous two sessions to reach fresh record highs. Investor sentiment remained supported by optimism over an imminent US government reopening and rising expectations of additional Fed rate cuts, as traders continued to monitor corporate updates. Shares of Infineon Technologies jumped 2.2% after the company forecasts its revenue will return to growth in the 2026 fiscal year. RWE added 3.5% after reporting higher-than-expected profits for the first nine months of the...
Tokyo stocks rebounded on Wednesday, with the Nikkei 225 closing higher as overseas investors scooped up shares of companies with solid earnings such as TDK and Fujikura, helping the market recover from recent weakness. The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, rose 220.38 points, or 0.43 percent, to finish at 51,063.31. After a period of adjustment earlier this month, investors turned optimistic toward companies reporting strong results late in the earnings season. A weaker yen also buoyed export-oriented issues. In foreign exchange trading, the yen briefly...
Asian stock markets, particularly in Hong Kong, surged on hopes that the United States would soon cut interest rates. This news came after data showed the US labor market weakened last month, increasing the chances of the Federal Reserve (the US central bank) lowering interest rates at its next meeting in December. Interest rate cuts are usually good news for the stock market as they can stimulate economic growth and investment. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rose around 1 percent, reaching its highest level in a month. Major stocks such as Shenzhou International Group and China Hongqiao...
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....