Oil prices rose slightly in trading on Tuesday (January 20) after better-than-expected Chinese economic data boosted demand optimism. Brent crude rose 19 cents (0.3%) to $64.13/barrel, while February WTI which expires today rose 25 cents (0.4%) to $59.69/barrel. The more active March WTI contract also edged higher to around $59.42/barrel. This strengthening was driven by news from China, the world's largest oil importer. The Chinese economy reportedly grew 5.0% through 2025, meeting the government's target. Refinery activity also increased, with refinery throughput rising 4.1% and crude oil...
European stock markets rallied on Wednesday, with equities in France perfomring strongly despite ongoing political upheaval in the country. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index climbed 0.8%, while the DAX in Germany increased by 1%, and the FTSE 100 in the United Kingdom gained 0.7%. Sectors like industrials, basic resources, banks, and insurance outperformed. France's CAC 40, meanwhile, moved up 1.1%. The index has been volatile throughout the week, fueled by the surprise resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday. The outgoing Lecornu, who is holding last-minute talks over...
The S&P 500 rose slightly on Wednesday, a day after it snapped a seven-day win streak because of a drop in Oracle that called to question the sustainability of the artificial intelligence trade. The government shutdown is also in its second week. The benchmark index climbed 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 62 points, or 0.2%. Nvidia shares rose more than 1% after CEO Jensen Huang said that demand has risen in recent months, telling CNBC that "this year, particularly the last six months, demand of computing has gone up...
The Hang Seng Index fell 128 points, or 0.5%, to close at 26,829 on Wednesday, declining for a third straight session as sector-wide weakness gripped the market. The technology index fell 0.6%, tracking Wall Street's losses after Oracle fell on margin concerns. Shares of tech giant Alibaba fell 1.6%, while Baidu (-3.2%), Meituan (-2.3%), and SMIC (-1.8%) posted sharp losses, as US lawmakers reportedly pushed for broader restrictions on chip-making equipment exports to China. Financial and consumer staples stocks also weakened, weighed down by concerns over China's slowing economic recovery,...
The Nikkei 225 index fell 0.45% to 47,735 on Wednesday, retreating from a record high as investors took profits following a rally fueled by expectations of stimulus under PM-elect Sanae Takaichi (the Abenomics line). Weaker wage data also dampened prospects for a BoJ interest rate hike, with real wages falling by -1.4% year-on-year in August, an eighth straight month of decline. The technology sector also followed Wall Street lower after Oracle's plunge rekindled concerns about the sustainability of AI trading. Uncertainty was further compounded by the prolonged US government shutdown....
The Hong Kong stock exchange plunged after a long holiday. The Hang Seng opened down 57 points (26,900), was hit by intense selling to 26,520, and closed down 380 points (-1.41%) at 26,577. The China Enterprise Index ended down 1.5% (9,429), while the Technology Index fell 1.94% (6,422). Tech led the decline: Tencent -1%, Alibaba -2.9%, Meituan -2%, Xiaomi -1%, JD.com -2.7%, Kuaishou -2.9%, and Baidu -5%. The financial sector also slumped: HSBC -1.3%, AIA -0.6%, Ping An -1.6%, and HKEX -1.3%. Main board turnover: HK$40.4 billion. Gold's rally to a new record fueled mixed performance among...