Silver surged more than 4% to above $66 per ounce on Wednesday, hitting fresh all-time highs as investors increasingly price in two interest rate cuts in early 2026. Support came from comments by Fed Governor Christopher Waller, a leading contender for the Fed chair role, who said US borrowing costs should be up to one percentage point lower. Waller warned that job growth has slowed to near zero and called for measured rate cuts next year to help support employment. Earlier in the week, US labor data reinforced signs of a cooling job market. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.6%, its...
Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed as investors kept an eye on the talks between the U.S. and China in Spain, and awaited a slate of data from Beijing. U.S. and Chinese officials began talks in Madrid Sunday to discuss key national security, economic, and trade issues, including the upcoming deadline to divest Chinese short video app TikTok and U.S. tariffs. Delegations led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with their counterparts, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and China's top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang. Meanwhile, China is...
The Nasdaq Composite notched a perfect week of closing highs on Friday as investors took signs of weakening jobs and tame inflation to mean the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates next week. The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 0.44% higher to settle at 22,141.10, led by a surge in Tesla shares. The broad market S&P 500 hovered around the flatline, down just 0.05% to finish at 6,584.29. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 273.78 points, or 0.59%, to close at 45,834.22. Having each closed at record levels Thursday, with the Dow finishing above 46,000 for the first time, the...
European stocks closed flat on Friday, after data showed the U.K. economic growth stalled in July. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was flat at 0.09% with no broad consensus movement among sectors and major bourses.Data released on Friday morning showed that the U.K. economy recorded zero growth in July, following a 0.4% economic expansion the previous month. The economic flatlining adds to the Bank of England's considerations as it prepares to update its monetary policy next week. On Thursday, the European Central Bank left its key interest rate unchanged in a highly anticipated move. In...
Wall Street indexes opened subdued on Friday after notching record highs in the previous session, though they remained on track to log gains in a week of economic reports that solidified expectations for interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 30.9 points, or 0.07%, at the open to 46,077.14. The S&P 500 rose 3.2 points, or 0.05%, to 6,590.66, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 35.6 points, or 0.16%, to 22,078.629. Source : Reuters
The Hang Seng Index rose 301 points, or 1.2%, to 26,387 on Friday (September 12), climbing for a sixth straight session to its highest level since August 2021. The index surged 3.8% for the week, its strongest weekly gain since March, amid record highs on Wall Street as rising US jobless claims reinforced speculation of a Fed rate cut next week, with further easing likely through the end of the year. Adding to the positive sentiment, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with Chinese Vice President He Lifeng in Madrid next week to continue talks on trade, economic, and security...
The STOXX 50 index edged up 0.1% to 5,390 points on Friday, its highest since late August, while the broader STOXX 600 also gained 0.1% to 555 points, as a jump in US jobless claims and a modest rise in inflation reinforced expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts next week and beyond. Meanwhile, the ECB signaled its rate-cutting cycle is over, with President Lagarde saying the bank is in a "good place" and that growth risks are now more balanced. In corporate news, Banco Sabadell slipped 0.6% after its board unanimously rejected BBVA's €15 billion takeover offer, urging shareholders not...
The Nikkei 225 climbed 0.89% to close at 44,768 and the Topix added 0.4% to 3,160 on Friday, with Japanese stocks hitting fresh record highs in line with Wall Street's overnight gains. On Thursday, all three major US indexes closed at all-time highs as signs of a cooling labor market and subdued inflation fueled expectations for deeper Federal Reserve rate cuts. In Japan, investors continued to assess the Bank of Japan's policy path amid mixed economic signals and political uncertainty. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba recently announced his resignation, facing mounting pressure after last...
Hong Kong shares surged 375 points, or 1.4%, to 26,405 on Friday morning's trade, reversing losses in the prior session and hitting their highest in over four years. The rally was broad-based, tracking a global rally after Wall Street's S&P 500 notched a third record close Thursday following higher-than-expected US jobless claims that solidified bets of a Fed rate cut next week, with more easing through year-end. For the week, the Hang Seng is up about 4%, set for a second straight weekly gain, lifted by a report that Beijing may direct state banks to help local governments cover unpaid...
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....