Hong Kong stocks fell 197 points, or 0.8%, to 26,282 in Friday's morning session, retreating after their biggest one-day gain since mid-August amid caution ahead of China's October trade data. Exports are expected to slow sharply after months of front-loading to avoid U.S. tariffs, while imports likely stay weak amid fragile consumer sentiment. Attention also turned to October Chinese CPI and PPI data due over the weekend, with deflation risks still a concern. On Wall Street, stocks declined overnight as renewed tech weakness and worries over the prolonged U.S. government shutdown hit...
USD/CHF edged lower during Asian trading hours on Friday (4/18), hovering around 0.8180, after posting gains in the previous session. The currency pair came under pressure as the US dollar weakened amid growing concerns over the economic impact of US tariffs. Market activity remained subdued due to the Good Friday holiday. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned that persistent inflation coupled with a slowing economy could jeopardize the Fed's dual mandate, raising the specter of stagflation. Sentiment was further dented after former President Trump criticized Powell's recent...
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude benchmark, was trading around $63.50 during the Asian session on Friday (4/18). WTI prices rose to a two-week high amid hopes for a trade deal between the United States and the European Union and new US sanctions on Iran. Trading volumes are likely to be light on Good Friday. US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Washington, signaling hopes for a resolution to the trade dispute that has strained US-European relations. "We're not going to have much trouble making a deal with Europe or anybody else, because we...
Gold prices (XAU/USD) held steady on Friday (4/18) after falling from an all-time high of $3,358 as investors booked profits during the long Easter holiday. Significant uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports into the US and ongoing geopolitical tensions could support gold prices, which are known as safe-haven assets. On the other hand, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell was hawkish, reducing the chances of a Fed rate cut in June. This, in turn, could lift the Greenback and weigh on USD-denominated commodity prices. Powell said that a weak economy and high...
The EUR/USD pair attracted some buyers near 1.1370 during the early Asian session on Friday (4/18). Concerns over the economic impact of tariffs continued to drag the US Dollar (USD) lower against the Euro (EUR). Traders will be closely monitoring developments surrounding the US trade talks. Trading volumes are likely to be thin on Good Friday. The European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates for the third time this year on Thursday, bringing its main rate to 2.25% in response to slowing growth and US President Donald Trump's tariffs. ECB President Christine Lagarde said during a press...
Oil prices settled more than 3% higher on Thursday, supported by hopes for a trade deal between the United States and the European Union and new U.S. sanctions to curb Iranian oil exports, which continued to elevate supply concerns. Brent crude futures settled $2.11, or 3.2%, higher to $67.96 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $2.21, or 3.54%, at $64.68 a barrel. For the week, both Brent and WTI gained about 5%, their first weekly gain in three weeks. Thursday is the last settlement day of the week ahead of the Easter holidays and trade volumes are expected to be...