The Hang Seng fell 249 points or 1.0% to close at 25,270 on Friday, slipping for the second session as all sectors dipped. Weak July data in China hit investor sentiment as industrial output grew the least in eight months, retail sales notched a six-month low, and the jobless rate rose to a four-month high of 5.2%. The Chinese statistics agency also warned of persistent risks from global headwinds and weather disruptions. Still, the index rose 1.7% for the week, its second straight gain, helped by Wall Street record highs and optimism over a possible Fed rate cut in September, as well as a...
Gold price (XAU/USD) trades with a negative bias for the second consecutive day, though it lacks bearish conviction and holds above the $3,300 mark during the Asian session on Wednesday. The global equity markets continue to rise amid signs of easing US-China trade tensions and US President Donald Trump's decision to give flexibility on tariffs to US carmakers. This, along with a modest US Dollar (USD) uptick, is seen as a key factor undermining demand for the safe-haven precious metal. Meanwhile, Trump's rapidly shifting stance on trade policies has been received poorly by investors and...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) trades with a negative bias against its American counterpart for the second straight day on Wednesday as a positive risk tone seems to undermine demand for traditional safe-haven assets. US President Donald Trump signed an order to ease the impact of new tariffs on the auto industry, which, along with signs of further trade deals, boosts investors' confidence. Apart from this, disappointing domestic data turns out to be another factor weighing on the JPY. Any meaningful JPY depreciation, however, seems elusive as traders might opt to move to the sidelines ahead of the...
The U.S. dollar was steady on Wednesday but poised for its weakest monthly performance since November 2022 as erratic U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump left the greenback vulnerable while boosting the euro, yen and Swiss franc. The White House has retreated several times on the sweeping tariffs Trump unveiled in early April that led to a global stock market meltdown and prompted investors to flee the normally safe-haven U.S. dollar and Treasury debt. Trump signed a pair of orders on Tuesday to soften the blow of his auto tariffs with a mix of credits and relief from other...
Oil prices tread water in Asian trade on Wednesday as uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and global economic growth kept traders negative on the outlook for demand, with weak Chinese manufacturing data adding to the mix. Prices were headed for a steep monthly loss in April as fears of slowing demand and increased supplies battered oil markets through the month. Prices had also briefly hit a four-year low earlier in April. Brent oil futures for June fell 0.1% to $64.18 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures steadied at $60.30 a barrel by 22:01 ET (02:01 GMT). Brent oil...
The Gold price (XAU/USD) extends the decline to near $3,315 during the early Asian session on Wednesday. The precious metal edges lower amid easing trade tensions and better risk sentiment in global markets. Traders will keep an eye on the US ADP Employment Change, Personal Consumption ExpendituresPrice Index (PCE) and the flash Q1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reports, which are due later on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump plans to soften the impact of his automotive tariffs by preventing duties on foreign-made cars from stacking with other tariffs and easing levies on foreign parts...