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...
The US Dollar (USD) weakened slightly on Monday (4/28) as markets kicked off a busy week, overshadowed by skepticism surrounding US trade policy. While US officials hinted at ongoing talks with Asian partners and "daily conversations" with China, Beijing reiterated that it was not engaged in negotiations, stressing the lack of winners in the tariff war. Against this backdrop, the US Dollar Index (DXY) traded slightly lower, around 99.33 at the time of writing. Optimism that US trade policy could eventually ease global tariffs is increasingly being viewed as misplaced. Analysts at Standard...
Brent crude oil prices fell more than $1 a barrel on Monday as economic concerns over the U.S.-China trade war weighed on demand. Brent crude futures settled at $65.86 a barrel, down $1.01, or 1.51%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled at $62.05 a barrel, down 97 cents, or 1.545%. Brent crude prices edged up in the previous two sessions, but ended Friday with a weekly loss of more than 1%. The U.S.-China trade war is dominating investor sentiment in driving oil prices, said analyst John Evans of brokerage PVM, overtaking nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran and...
Gold prices reversed course and rose on Monday (4/28) as bargain hunting began, while market focus turned to developments in the U.S.-China trade war and a slew of economic data. Spot gold was up 0.4% at $3,332.59 an ounce by 12:09 p.m. ET (1609 GMT) after falling as much as 1.8% earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures were up 1.4% at $3,344.0. "We are starting to see the first signs of selling exhaustion," said TD Securities commodity strategist Daniel Ghali, adding that downside risks to gold are limited. "Western investors, particularly discretionary or macro funds, have been...
Gold prices dipped for a second straight session on Monday as U.S.-China trade tensions eased, and the market awaited data due this week. Spot gold was down 0.6% at $3,297.10 an ounce as of 09:27 a.m. ET (1327 GMT). U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $3,307.80. "Gold prices are still dealing with the improved optimism over a U.S.-China trade deal even though there is a lack of clarity," Zain Vawda, analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA, said. The hopes that tariff damage was being contained also kept global equity markets at their highest over three weeks. U.S. President Donald Trump says progress...
Oil prices were stable on Monday as investors weighed up uncertainty over trade talks between the U.S. and China, clouding the outlook for global growth and fuel demand, as well as the prospect of OPEC+ raising supply. Brent crude futures were down 15 cents, or 0.22%, at $66.72 a barrel, as of 1204 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude shed 16 cents, or 0.25%, to $62.86 a barrel. Brent futures rose marginally in the previous two sessions, but nonetheless marked a week-on-week decrease of over 1% on Friday on concerns about the impact of tariffs on the global economy. The U.S.-China...