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 at City Index and FOREX.com, in an email. "Gold's breakout above yet another round handle is simply fuelling the bullish momentum given the lack of any major selling activity," the analyst says. Gold could test next major level of $4,000/oz, with $3,900/oz broken, Razaqzada adds. Spot gold is 0.3% higher at $3,969.75/oz after earlier touching a fresh record intraday high of $3,976.18/oz, ICE...
Hong Kong stocks declined for a second straight session on Wednesday as escalating tensions in the Middle East fueled concerns about potential supply disruptions, while investors awaited signals on new stimulus from the Lujiazui Forum. The Hang Seng Index slipped 269.61 points, or 1.1%, to 23,710.69, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 100.48 points, or 1.2%, to 8,594.19. Markets tracked developments in the Israel-Iran conflict, now in its sixth day of direct exchanges. US President Donald Trump met his national security team in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the situation,...
Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered near the flatline on Wednesday, as investors weighed ongoing geopolitical tensions and major central bank decisions. Markets continued to monitor the conflict between Israel and Iran, which is now in its sixth day, with no sign of a ceasefire. Concerns persisted over the potential for escalation and the possibility of greater U.S. involvement, especially after President Trump called for Iran's unconditional surrender. At the same time, traders remained cautious ahead of the Fed's monetary policy decision. While the central bank is widely expected to...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Wednesday (6/18), as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors boosted shares. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.87% to hit a fresh 3-month high. The best performer on the Nikkei 225 was Nintendo Co Ltd (TYO:7974), which rose 6.59% or 820.00 points to trade at 13,260.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Taisei Corp. (TYO:1801) rose 5.13% or 411.00 points to end at 8,421.00 and Lasertec Corp (TYO:6920) gained 4.77% or 735.00 points to 16,150.00 in late trade. The worst performers on the session were Nippon Steel Corp (TYO:5401), which...
Hong Kong stocks plunged 267 points, or 1.1%, to 23,713 in early trading on Wednesday (6/18), extending losses for a second day amid a broad-based sector decline. Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran continued to weigh on sentiment, with US President Trump reportedly considering a military strike on Tehran. Market caution also persists ahead of the Fed's interest rate decision later in the day. The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight meeting, although geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices could dampen hopes for near-term policy...
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Wednesday, as rising tensions between Israel and Iran weighed on investor sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a military strike on Iran, while demanding that the country's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "surrender," current and former U.S. officials told NBC News. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, demanded "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" by Iran. "President Trump's comments have fueled speculation that the U.S. will become more involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel that escalated significantly five days ago," ANZ analysts wrote...
The Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% to above 38,600, while the broader Topix index also rose 0.2% to 2,792 on Wednesday, marking its third straight session of gains as investors digested a slew of economic data. Exports fell in May for the first time in eight months amid U.S. tariff pressures, while imports fell more than expected. Core machine orders slumped in April, and manufacturing sentiment weakened in June, reflecting growing concerns about domestic demand. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady on Tuesday and signaled a cautious approach to balance sheet reduction,...
US equities fell on Tuesday as investors closely monitored escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the Israel-Iran conflict entering its fifth day. The S&P 500 lost 0.8%, the Dow dropped 299 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.9%, amid growing fears that the US could become directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. President Trump intensified his rhetoric, demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender" and warning of a potential strike against Supreme Leader Khamenei in a series of Truth Social posts. At the same time, disappointing US retail sales, which dropped 0.9% in May, signaled a...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lost some ground on Tuesday, declining below 42,500 as equity markets roil beneath the weight of the burgeoning Israel-Iran conflict. President Donald Trump is racing toward direct involvement in the altercation, a move that could further destabilize the region. Retail Sales data also contracted sharply in May, with Tuesday's data release showing nearly a full percentage decline in American retail shopping volumes. Donald Trump, posting on social media Tuesday, declared that he wants an "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" from Iranian supreme leader Ali...
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....