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...
Gold prices posted modest gains of over 0.22% on Wednesday as the latest inflation report in the United States (US) revealed that prices are cooling. Hence, investors increased their bets that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would resume its easing cycle in September. The XAU/USD trades at $3,327. May's Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the US provided an opportunity for Gold buyers. The print dipped compared to April's data, and Bullion prices spiked toward a daily peak of $3,360 – in the headline – before erasing those gains. Uncertainty around negotiations between the US and China will most...
The U.S. dollar slid on Wednesday after data showed inflation in the world's largest economy rose less than expected last month, suggesting that the Federal Reserve could resume cutting interest rates sooner rather than later. The greenback, however, briefly trimmed losses after President Donald Trump said a U.S. trade deal with China is done, with Beijing to supply magnets and rare earth minerals while the U.S. will allow Chinese students in its colleges and universities. A White House official also said the agreement allows the U.S. to charge a 55% tariff on imported Chinese goods. This...
GBP/USD advances on Wednesday during the North American session, boosted by a weaker-than-expected consumer inflation report in the United States (US), which increased speculation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) may reduce borrowing costs twice in 2025. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.3537, up 0.34%The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in May rose less than estimates. Headline figures increased by 2.4% YoY, up from 2.3% a month ago but below forecasts for a 2.5% rise. Core CPI – which excludes volatile items like food and energy – advanced 2.8% YoY, unchanged compared with April's...
Gold rose after a softer-than-expected inflation reading bolstered bets that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this year. Underlying US inflation rose in May by less than forecast for the fourth month in a row, suggesting companies are finding ways to limit how much of higher costs from tariffs they pass through to customers. The dollar and bond yields pushed lower after the print, sending bullion higher by as much as 1.1% before paring some of the gains. Bullion typically benefits from a lower rate environment as it pays no interest. Gold is...
Oil prices rose to a seven-week high on Wednesday as US President Donald Trump said a deal was in place with China, raising expectations of a de-escalation in trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. Brent crude futures rose $1.15, or 1.7%, to $68.02 a barrel by 1249 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $1.31, or 2%, to $66.29. At that level, WTI hit its highest in more than two months. Trump said Beijing would supply magnets and rare earth minerals and the US would allow Chinese students into its colleges and universities. Trump added that the deal was...