European shares closed flat on Wednesday, surrendering early session gains, as healthcare stocks felt the pinch from U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threat to impose higher tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 0.06% lower, breaking its two-day winning streak despite starting the session on a positive note. Healthcare stocks bore the brunt of the selling pressure. The sector index plunged 2.8% to its lowest level in more than three months after Trump unveiled a graduated tariff plan targeting pharmaceutical imports that could see levies on the...
Oil edges higher in early Asian trade, aided by renewed supply concerns. President Trump said that he would give Russian President Putin 10 or 12 days to reach a cease-fire with Ukraine or face more economic pressure from the U.S.. Previously, Trump had threatened Moscow with 100% secondary tariffs to create pressure toward a peace deal, ANZ Research analysts say in a research report. Trump's remarks have reignited fears that Russia's oil flows would be impacted, the analysts add. Front-month WTI crude oil futures are 0.2% higher at $66.85/bbl; front-month Brent crude oil futures are 0.2%...
Gold consolidates in the early Asian session, but may be weighed by trade-deal hopes. The Trump administration engaged in negotiations with China in Sweden on Monday, with additional discussions expected on Tuesday. The recent wave of trade optimism has resulted in a temporary outflow of capital from safe-haven assets such as gold into riskier assets such as equities, XS.com's Linh Tran says in an email. Hence, gold, which traditionally acts as a hedge against uncertainty, has lost some of its upward momentum in the short term, the market analyst adds. Spot gold is little changed at...
The EUR/USD dropped more than 1% on Monday as investors bought the Dollar on news that the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) had reached a trade agreement, similar to the one inked by Japan. The pair trades at 1.1590 after reaching a high of 1.1771. Wall Street ended Monday's session with gains as investors seemed confident that the US would reach additional deals throughout the week. Nevertheless, the August 1 deadline approaches, and Washington remains unable to reach agreements so far with two of its three largest partners: Canada and Mexico. Aside from this, the US...
Oil prices rose 2% on Monday after a trade deal between the U.S. and the European Union, and U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that he would shorten the deadline for Russia to end its war in Ukraine or face sanctions. Brent crude futures were up $1.42, or 2.1%, at $69.86 a barrel by 12:58 p.m. EDT (1658 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.40, or 2.2%, to $66.56. Brent touched its highest price in 10 days after Trump said he was reducing the 50-day deadline he gave Russia over its war in Ukraine to 10-12 days. The deal between the U.S. and EU and a possible...
The US Dollar (USD) starts the week on a firmer note, extending its modest recovery since Thursday, as easing global trade tensions lift investor sentiment. Interestingly, the Greenback, which typically underperforms in a risk-on environment, is finding support despite improving risk appetite, underpinned by expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will leave interest rates unchanged at its monetary policy decision on Wednesday. Notably, a flurry of trade agreements finalized last week is also acting as a tailwind for the Greenback, with the August 1 tariff deadline looming and keeping...