The Hang Seng Index fell 54 points, or 0.2%, to close at 25,123 on Tuesday (August 19), marking its fourth session of declines and its lowest close in nearly three weeks. Investors remained cautious ahead of the PBoC's monthly benchmark lending rate review due on Wednesday. Weakening US index futures also added to risk-off sentiment ahead of the Jackson Hole meeting later this week. Meanwhile, the latest data showed China's youth unemployment rate jumped to 17.8% in July from 14.5% in June, the highest since August 2024. The broader unemployment rate also rose to a four-month high of...
The Pound Sterling (GBP) bounces back to near 1.2930 against the US Dollar (USD) in Monday's European session after hitting a one-month low of 1.2830 earlier in the day. The GBP/USD pair attracts bids as the US Dollar faces pressure due to the imposition of reciprocal tariffs by United States (US) President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback's value against six major currencies, declines to near 102.40. Financial market participants have become increasingly concerned over the US economic outlook as Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell...
Oil prices plummet in early trade, extending the previous week's losses on fears that escalating global trade tensions will spark a recession and weaken demand for crude. Brent is down 3.7% at $63.13 a barrel, while WTI falls 3.9% to $59.56 a barrel. Both benchmarks dropped to a four-year low as China retaliated against President Trump's levies and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned U.S. tariffs will likely raise inflation and slow economic growth. "The scale of the selloff suggests the market is pricing in a significant demand hit as recession fears grow," analysts at ING...
Gold prices pared earlier losses on Monday, as some safe-haven demand filtered through and as strong central bank buying supported prices after they dropped to an over three-week low, while analysts continued to see a bullish outlook for bullion. Spot gold was down 0.6% at $3,019.63 an ounce, as of 0745 GMT. Earlier in the session, gold dropped around 2% to its lowest point since March 13, as jittery investors offloaded the precious metal to offset losses elsewhere, amid fears of a global recession, fuelled by an intensifying trade war. U.S. gold futures firmed 0.1% to $3,037.30. Gold...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) reverses an intraday dip against its American counterpart and climbs back closer to the top end of the daily range heading into the European session on Monday. Investors remain worried that US President Donald Trump's tariffs would trigger an all-out global trade war and undermine economic growth around the world. Moreover, persistent geopolitical tensions lead to an extended sell-off in equity markets and offer some support to the safe-haven JPY. Meanwhile, signs of broadening inflation in Japan keep the door open for further interest rate hikes by the Bank of...
The Silver price (XAG/USD) recovers to around $30.05 during the early European trading hours on Monday. The white metal edges higher as the fear of tariff wars and the potential global recession boost the safe-haven demand. Silver price has witnessed heightened volatility since last week in response to the US imposing reciprocal trade tariffs on key trading partners. Mounting fears of recession over the impact of a global trade war triggered by US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs dampen market sentiment and undermine the precious metals. Furthermore, strong industrial demand,...