European stocks opened lower on Wednesday (November 5th), reflecting a global downturn amid growing concerns over sky-high tech valuations. The pan-European Stoxx 600 Index was down 0.4% at 8:20 a.m. in London (3:20 a.m. ET), with most major bourses and sectors in the red. The UK's FTSE 500 Index opened 0.1% lower, Germany's DAX 0.7% lower, France's CAC 40 0.4% lower, and Italy's FTSE MIB 0.3% lower. European tech companies led the decline, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index down 1.2% following a sharp sell-off in U.S. tech stocks on Tuesday. The sluggish sentiment seen in...
Gold held a three-day advance, as US President Donald Trump announced a highly-anticipated trade deal with Japan, signaling progress on fraught talks ahead of his Aug. 1 tariff deadline. Bullion traded near $3,430 an ounce — up 2.5% so far this week — as Trump announced it would impose 15% and 19% tariffs on goods from Japan and the Philippines, a strategic geopolitical ally. With several countries racing to secure trade deals, investors are seeking clarity specifically on progress with China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he will meet his Chinese counterparts...
Brent rose toward $69 a barrel after a three-day decline, while West Texas Intermediate was near $66 a barrel. President Donald Trump unveiled an agreement with the Philippines setting a 19% tariff and a deal with Japan that sets a 15% rate, fueling a rally in Asian shares and US stock futures. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he will meet his Chinese counterparts for trade talks in Stockholm next week, and will "be working out what is likely an extension" to the current Aug. 12 deadline for negotiations. He also said that the...
The dollar held losses against the yen on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan ahead of an impending tariff deadline. Trump said the agreement will result in Japan investing $550 billion into the United States and a tariff rate of 15% was set on U.S. imports from Japan. With an August 1 deadline looming before the imposition of sweeping import duties on trade partners, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday the administration is more concerned with the quality of trade agreements than the timing. Asked whether the deadline could be...
GBP/USD strengthened for the second consecutive day on Tuesday (July 22nd), driven by a general weakening in the global US dollar market. The US dollar (USD) continued to suffer as investors grew concerned about US President Donald Trump's targeting of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and concerns about the Fed's weakening political autonomy have shaken the dollar's support. President Trump continues to campaign for the removal of Fed Chairman Powell. Lacking the legal authority to directly intervene with Fed staff, the Trump administration is actively seeking to build arguments for...
Oil prices plummeted on Tuesday (July 23) for the third straight session, as hopes for a trade deal between the U.S. and Europe faded, fueling concerns of an economic slowdown in the world's largest oil market. Brent crude futures fell 82 cents, or 1.2%, to $68.39 a barrel at 1:59 p.m. EDT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for August delivery, which expires on Tuesday, fell $1.05, or 1.6%, to $66.15 a barrel. The more active September WTI contract fell 87 cents, or 1.3%, to $65.08 a barrel. The European Union is exploring a broader range of possible retaliatory measures against the U.S....