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 Index (DXY), which tracks the performance of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, trades broadly flat on Monday just below the 100.00-marker. Over the weekend, United States (US) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said trade deal negotiations with several Asian countries are underway, while US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins added that the Trump administration is having "daily conversations" with China over tariffs. However, China said on Monday that it is not engaged in trade negotiations with the US. The country reiterated that there are no winners in a...
The dollar held steady on Monday as investors waited warily on news of U.S. trade policy and braced for a week packed with economic data that may give a first glimpse of whether U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war is hitting home. At 143.69 yen and $1.1325 per euro the dollar has, for now, found a footing, while staying on course for its largest monthly fall in nearly 2-1/2 years as Trump has rattled confidence in the dependability of U.S. assets. It is down more than 4% on both the euro and the yen through April, though bounced at the end of last week on an apparent conciliatory shift...
Oil prices inched higher on Monday though remained dogged by uncertainty over trade talks between the U.S. and China, clouding the outlook for global growth and fuel demand, while the prospect of OPEC+ raising supply cast more gloom. Brent crude futures were up 21 cents, or 0.3%, at $67.08 a barrel, as of 0742 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 24 cents, or 0.4%, to $63.26 a barrel. Both benchmarks nudged higher for a third session. "Absence of news is pushing oil prices modestly higher as traders are positioned short ahead of potential increased OPEC+ supply from the May 5...
Gold futures are flat at $3,298.90 a troy ounce on a stronger U.S. dollar and signs of easing U.S.-China tensions. Gold prices slid on Friday after briefly breaching $3,500/oz earlier in the week. The most interesting point for markets is that buying demand from Asia appears to have dried up, at least for the time being, Pepperstone's Michael Brown says in a note. This could suggest more downside pressure in the near-term, which could be further exacerbated by some investors with weaker long positions bailing out the incredibly crowded gold trade, Brown writes. Given intense market...
Silver prices fell below $33 per ounce on Monday, extending losses from the previous session as easing US-China trade tensions strengthened the dollar and dampened demand for safe-haven metals. Last week, US President Donald Trump signaled openness to lowering Chinese tariffs, while Beijing exempted certain US goods from its 125% levies. Washington is also holding further trade talks with other major economies this week including Japan and South Korea. Meanwhile, China expressed confidence in meeting its full-year growth target of around 5% but refrained from introducing immediate...