Gold steadied and was set for a moderate weekly loss as investors assessed the outlook for Federal Reserve rate cuts after resilient US jobs and retail data eased concerns about the economy. Bullion traded below $3,340 an ounce, heading for a 0.5% drop on the week. That came after data that showed applications for unemployment benefits fell for a fifth straight week to the lowest level since mid-April, and advancing retail sales in June. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said it's reasonable for policymakers to plan on two interest-rate cuts this year, emphasizing that the central bank...
European stocks opened broadly lower on Wednesday ahead of a U.K.-focused day for markets. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.7% lower by 9:25 a.m. in London, with most sectors seeing losses. Wednesday will be a busy day for U.K. financial markets, with the "Spring Statement" from U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves due just after midday local time, and official figures showing U.K. inflation cooled slightly to 2.8% in February. Reeves is expected to announce billions of pounds worth of spending cuts as a way to close a budget shortfall caused by a rise in borrowing costs since her first...
The Hang Seng climbed 139 points or 0.6% to close at 23,483 on Wednesday, partially rebounding from a near two-week low in the prior session. Sentiment improved after the Trump administration suggested that upcoming US tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared. Traders also welcomed news that Morgan Stanley raised its 2025 year-end targets for Chinese stocks, while Goldman Sachs strategists predicted further upside driven by positive earnings revisions. Geopolitical developments also provided support, with the US announcing a Russia- Ukraine ceasefire in the Black Sea. However, a...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.65% to close at 38,027, while the Topix Index gained 0.55% to 2,813 on Wednesday, marking a second straight session of gains. Japanese stocks followed Wall Street's strong overnight performance, buoyed by hopes of a less aggressive stance on Trump's tit-for-tat tariffs. Meanwhile, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda told parliament that it would continue to raise interest rates if economic projections materialize. Ueda said growth has been beating expectations as the positive cycle from rising incomes to rising spending gradually strengthens. Consumer stocks led the...
Hong Kong shares rose 65 points, or 0.3%, to 23,404 in early trade on Wednesday, trying to bounce back from a near two-week low hit the previous day. Gains were led by the technology, consumer discretionary and property sectors, with traders reacting positively to trade data showing the city's exports and imports rose at the fastest pace in 13 months. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures edged higher after Wall Street posted modest overnight gains ahead of President Trump's April 2 tariff deadline. In China, Morgan Stanley raised its outlook on mainland stocks for the second time in just over a...
The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 0.7% to surpass 38,000, while the Topix Index added 0.6% to 2,814 on Wednesday, marking their second consecutive session of gains. Japanese stocks followed a strong Wall Street lead overnight, buoyed by hopes of a less aggressive stance on Trump's reciprocal tariffs. Meanwhile, investors continued to analyze the Bank of Japan's monetary policy outlook, after minutes from the January meeting suggested that policymakers remain open to further interest rate hikes. Consumer stocks led the advance, with strong gains from Nintendo (5.3%), Sony Group (2.9%), and Fast...
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Wednesday, tracking gains on Wall Street on expectations that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs could be softer than previously expected. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 opened 0.71% higher. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.63% at the open, while the Topix gained 0.39%. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.38% while the small-cap Kosdaq traded 0.28% lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index futures were at 23,478, also higher than the HSI's last close of 23,344.25. The White House's planned tariffs set for April 2 are expected to be limited in scope, according to reports...
The S&P 500 posted a slim gain on Tuesday as investors built on the previous session's gains, which were largely sparked by hopes of U.S. tariffs being narrower in scope. The broad market index added 0.16% to close at 5,776.65, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.46% and ended at 18,271.86. The Dow Jones Industrial Average crept higher by 4.18 points, or 0.01%, to settle at 42,587.50. Investors largely looked past the March consumer confidence data released Tuesday, which reflected a significant drop in U.S. consumers' near-term outlook on income, business, and job conditions. The...
European markets closed higher on Tuesday as investors continued to assess the scope and breadth of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 0.67% higher, with most sectors and all major bourses in positive territory.Germany's DAX led regional gains, up 1.13%, after a survey showed improved business sentiment in the conuntry. German biotech firm Bayer rose more than 5%, recovering from a 7% loss in the previous session after announcing over the weekend that it had been ordered by a U.S. court to pay $2.1 billion in damages relating to its Roundup...
Gold (XAU/USD) is extending its decline on Wednesday for a second consecutive day as the US Dollar (USD) and US Treasury yields firm ahead of the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)...
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....