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 rose on Monday (December 8), boosted by rising expectations of a US interest rate cut, which weighed on the dollar, ahead of this week's Federal Reserve policy meeting. Spot gold rose 0.3% to $4,209.43 per ounce at 08:51 GMT. US gold futures for December delivery fell 0.1% to $4,239.40 per ounce. The dollar index weakened slightly, nearing a one-month low reached on December 4, making dollar-priced gold more affordable for overseas buyers. "Gold is benefiting from a weaker US dollar and market participants expecting the Fed to cut interest rates this week," said UBS analyst...
The dollar weakened on Monday (December 8th), ahead of a busy week of central bank meetings led by the US Federal Reserve, where a rate cut is widely expected, although a deeply divided committee is an unexpected factor. In addition to the Fed's decision on Wednesday, the central banks of Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Switzerland also hold rate-setting meetings, although none of those meetings are expected to change monetary policy. Analysts expect the Fed to deliver a "hawkish" rate cut, with the language of the statement, median projections, and Chairman Jerome Powell's press conference...
The US dollar index traded below 99 on Monday after recording two consecutive weeks of declines. The main pressure comes from strong expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, with the market probability now approaching 88%, up sharply from around 67% a month ago. However, the direction of interest rate policy for 2026 remains a question mark. Some analysts expect the Fed to undertake a series of aggressive rate cuts, but Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to signal a more cautious stance regarding the potential for further...
Gold strengthened at the start of the Asian trading session as market participants grew more confident that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates later this week. The price increase for this precious metal emerged after the release of key US inflation indicators, which were in line with expectations, providing no negative surprises for the market. This situation has led to gold being re-emerged as a safe-haven asset amidst the Fed's monetary policy shift. ANZ Research, in a note, explained that the indicator in focus is the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) deflator, long known...
Global oil prices have been stable amidst various geopolitical dynamics. Brent crude is hovering just below $64 per barrel, while WTI is approaching $60. One of the market's key focuses is energy relations between India and Russia, especially after President Vladimir Putin promised unhindered fuel deliveries to India. This issue has become increasingly important as US negotiators arrive in India for trade talks. Meanwhile, developments related to a potential Ukraine-Russia peace deal have also influenced price movements. US President Donald Trump stated that he had held discussions with...