The Hang Seng Index reversed its downward trend in Hong Kong on Thursday (February 12th), weakening by around 0.9% to around 27,000 after a strong session earlier. This decline halted the momentum of the short term rally, as investors began to reduce risk in large cap stocks. Among the index's contributors, Tencent was a major drag, with its shares falling by around 2.3%, putting pressure on the technology sector, which has recently been a driving force behind market gains. Weakness in large cap companies like this typically quickly impacts sentiment due to their significant weighting in...
The euro climbed above $1.175 on Monday, snapping a two-day losing streak after the US and EU reached a trade agreement over the weekend. The deal includes a 15% tariff on most European goods, significantly lower than the 30% originally threatened by Washington, easing fears of a broader trade conflict. Announced jointly by President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland on Sunday, the agreement was hailed by Trump as "the biggest of all the deals," while von der Leyen said it would provide "stability" and "predictability." However, key details, such as...
Oil steadied after the US and European Union agreed on a trade deal ahead of President Donald Trump's tariff deadline of Aug. 1. Brent was above $68 a barrel after closing 1.1% lower on Friday, and West Texas Intermediate traded near $65. The bloc faces 15% levies on most of its exports, although Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared to differ on some key details of the agreement. Trump's trade policies and threats of retaliation from targeted countries have raised concerns about the outlook for global economic growth, weighing on oil and other commodities....
Gold steadied after the US and European Union announced they had reached a tariff agreement, staving off some concerns about a potentially painful trade war between the economies. Bullion traded near $3,330 an ounce — following a 0.4% weekly loss — as investors weighed the outlook for the global economy in the wake of the deal, which will see the EU face 15% levies on most of its exports including automobiles. Still, there are lingering questions about the scope of the pact, including details over the impact on metals — signaling potential challenges when it comes to implementation. With...
Oil prices weakened on Friday (July 25th) and closed at a three-week low as traders worried about negative economic news from the US and China and signs of increasing supply. The losses were limited by optimism that a US trade deal could boost global economic growth and future oil demand. Brent crude futures fell 74 cents, or 1.1%, to $68.44, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 87 cents, or 1.3%, to $65.16. This was the lowest closing level for Brent since July 4th and WTI since June 30th. For the week, Brent fell about 1% while WTI fell about 3%. European Commission...
Gold prices weakened on Friday, weighed down by a stronger U.S. dollar and signs of progress in U.S.-EU trade negotiations, which have dampened demand for safe-haven assets. Spot gold fell 0.9% to $3,336.01 an ounce at 2:01 PM ET (18:01 GMT). U.S. gold futures closed down 1.1% at $3,335.6. The U.S. dollar index, open a new tab, rebounded from a more than two-week low, making bullion more expensive for overseas buyers. "The Japan deal is significant, and there are hopes for a U.S.-EU deal before the August 1 deadline. That's reducing safe-haven demand as rising risk appetite drives capital...