Gold prices extend gains, supported by expectations of further U.S. monetary easing, persistent geopolitical risks and strong investor demand. "While U.S. employment data was mixed, markets continue to see the Federal Reserve cutting its interest rates two times during the first part of 2026," says Bas Kooijman, CEO and Asset Manager of DHF Capital. Investors are now focused on November's consumer-price data due Thursday, as signs of further disinflation could push yields lower, weaken the dollar and allow gold to test fresh record highs, Kooijman said. Meanwhile, geopolitical fears drive...
Asia-Pacific markets fell Wednesday, tracking Wall Street declines after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that "equity prices are fairly highly valued." Powell also signaled that the rate-cutting path wasn't clear and that the central bank faces a "challenging situation." Australia's ASX/S&P 200 lost 0.61%. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.33%, while the Topix lost 0.35%. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.11%, while the small-cap Kosdaq traded 0.39% lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was set to open higher, with its futures contract last traded at 26,188 against the...
A record-breaking US stock rally stalled on Tuesday, as investors weighed cautious comments from Federal Reserve officials and concerns about the sustainability of AI-driven commerce. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.7%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 88 points. Nvidia fell 2.8% after a Monday surge linked to its $100 billion OpenAI investment, as investors questioned the deal's structure and energy demand, while Oracle and Amazon fell 4.1% and 3.1%, respectively. On the positive side, Kenvue rose 1.7% after paring losses from Trump's criticism of Tylenol, and...
European stocks touched their highest in more than a week on Tuesday, lifted by a rally in luxury goods companies on higher U.S. spending and gains for wind energy stocks after a court ruled that Orsted could restart work on a U.S. offshore project. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed up 0.4%, after having touched its highest since September 16 earlier in the session. Most regional bourses also closed higher. Portugal stocks closed at their highest in more than three weeks after the country kept its budget surplus target for 2025, allowing it to continue reducing its debt ratio. Meanwhile,...
The Hang Seng dropped 185 points, or 0.7%, to close at 26,159 on Tuesday, its second straight decline and the lowest in nearly two weeks. Sentiment weakened as China's policy measures fell short of expectations following a press briefing by top financial regulators on Monday, including the PBoC governor. Locally, Hong Kong shut down ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa, with most flights suspended until Thursday. In the U.S., three Fed officials signaled the need for caution on inflation, while markets awaited a speech from Chair Powell later today. Losses were partly limited by pledges from the...
European stocks edged higher on Tuesday, with the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 both up 0.1%, supported by a tech-led rally on Wall Street and optimism over AI following news of a Nvidia–OpenAI partnership. Traders also awaited fresh PMI data from Europe's largest economies. France disappointed, with both services and manufacturing slipping into contraction territory. On the corporate front, LVMH (+0.5%), Siemens (+1%), Schneider Electric (+1.9%) and ABB (+0.7%) booked gains, while Orsted surged more than 7% after a US court ruling cleared the way to resume work on the Revolution Wind project off...
Hong Kong shares fell 195 points or 0.7% to 26,160 in early deals on Tuesday, marking a second day of losses as most sectors retreated. Sentiment weakened after PBoC Governor Pan Gongsheng's Monday briefing failed to deliver the easing measures investors had hoped for, with policymakers showing little urgency for major stimulus amid resilient exports and a stock market rally. In the U.S., futures were steady as Fed officials tempered bets for further cuts, noting inflation remains above target, though new Fed Governor Stephen Miran continued to advocate for deeper cuts. Losses were capped...
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher Tuesday, fueled by a tech rally on Wall Street after Nvidia announced a partnership with OpenAI, driving investor optimism about the future of artificial intelligence. Australia's ASX/S&P 200 rose 0.17%. South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.69%, while the small-cap Kosdaq added 0.28% at the open. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was set to open higher, with its futures contract last traded at 26,396, against the index's previous close of 26,344.14. Hong Kong is bracing for a severe typhoon. The Hong Kong Observatory warned that conditions will begin to...
US stocks rallied on Monday (September 22nd) as Wall Street extended its record high, driven by optimism for megacap Big Tech companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, the Nasdaq gained 0.5%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66 points, with all three indexes closing at new highs. Nvidia jumped 4% after announcing an investment of up to $100 billion in OpenAI, lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, while Oracle surged 6.3% following a leadership change and continued enthusiasm for AI. Apple shares rose 4.3%, supported by strong demand for the iPhone 17, and Tesla rose 1.9%, reaching a 2025...
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....