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) attracts some sellers for the second straight day on Wednesday and extends the previous day's rejection slide from the $3,500 psychological mark or a fresh record high. US President Donald Trump's administration officials hinted at a potential de-escalation of the ongoing tariff dispute with China and fueled optimism about a trade deal. Adding to this Trump stepped back from his threats to dismiss Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell. Furthermore, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated he is open to the prospect of direct talks with his Ukrainian counterpart...
The GBP/USD pair remains weak near 1.3280 during the early Asian session on Wednesday. Comments by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hint at a thaw in US-China trade tensions, fueling optimism in markets and strengthening the US Dollar (USD) against the Pound Sterling (GBP). Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that he expects a de-escalation in US President Donald Trump's trade war with China in the very near future. He further stated that the tariff standoff with China cannot be sustained by both sides and that the world's two largest economies will have to find ways to...
The EUR/USD pair attracts some follow-through selling for the second straight day on Wednesday and drops to a one-week low during the Asian session. Spot prices, however, rebound a few pips from the 1.1300 neighborhood and currently trade around the 1.1380 region, still down over 0.35% for the day. The US Dollar (USD) builds on the overnight bounce from the vicinity of a three-year low touched on Monday and turns out to be a key factor exerting downward pressure on the EUR/USD pair. That said, the weakening confidence in the US economy, along with the prospects for more aggressive policy...
AUD/USD attracts some dip-buyers to hold near 0.6400 in the Asian session on Wednesday. Hopes for a possible de-escalation in the US-China trade war boost investors' appetite for riskier assets and support the Aussie. Further, the pause in the US Dollar rebound also aids the pair's upside. the Australian Dollar (AUD) lost some upside traction, sending AUD/USD back toward the 0.6370 region despite the earlier advance to the area of yearly peaks around 0.6440. The late retracement in the pair came on the back of a pick-up in the buying interest around the US Dollar (USD) amid unabated jitters...
Silver price (XAG/USD) retraces its recent losses from the previous session, trading around $32.70 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Wednesday. However, prices of grey metal faced headwinds as investor optimism grew over the Federal Reserve's (Fed) independence. US President Donald Trump helped calm markets by clarifying he has no intention of removing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, stating, "The press runs away with things. No, I have no intention of firing him. I would like to see him be a little more active in terms of his idea to lower interest rates." Market sentiment was further...