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...
The AUD/USD pair surged on Monday, reaching a fresh five-month high near the 0.6500 level. The Australian Dollar (AUD) benefits from a range of factors, including the US Dollar's (USD) weakness, a solid economic report from the US and the strengthening of global risk sentiment. The Australian Dollar's performance also mirrors broader optimism stemming from the victory of Anthony Albanese's Labor Party in Australia's parliamentary elections, signaling the continuation of stable economic policies. Meanwhile, ongoing trade talks, particularly between the US and China, have contributed to a...
Crude Oil prices are clawing back near-term losses sparked by a planned OPEC output increase.WTI briefly plunged below $65 per barrel as global glut fears resurface.OPEC is poised to reverse its self-imposed two-year production cut beginning in June.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude Oil prices are stabilizing on Monday, clawing back near-term losses after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced it would begin stepping up its internal production quotas beginning in June. The move is broadly seen as a way to punish smaller OPEC member nations that flouted...
Gold (XAU/USD) prices jumped over 2%, or more than $70, on Monday as the Greenback was battered, although positive economic data from the United States (US) suggests the economy remains solid. XAU/USD trades at $3,309 after bouncing off daily lows of $3,237. Market mood improved following a report by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) that service providers reassured the robustness of the US economy. The data hinted that prices are rising, ignited by US President Donald Trump's tariffs Over the weekend, Trump announced 100% duties on foreign-produced movies while saying that the...
The U.S. dollar was mostly lower against major currencies, including the yen and the euro, on Monday as markets weighed continued uncertainty from President Donald Trump's policies and their impact on the economy. The greenback slid to a fresh record low against the Taiwan dollar to 28.8150 amid speculation that Taiwan was letting its currency appreciate as part of a trade deal with the U.S., or at least was unwilling to intervene to stop it rising alongside sharp inflows in capital. Trump doubled down on tariff-driven policies during an interview on Sunday, reiterating that the duties on...
Gold advanced amid ongoing trade war risks following US President Donald Trump's latest tariff comments, while investors await a Federal Reserve interest-rate decision later this week. While Trump suggested his administration could strike trade deals with some countries as soon as this week, he signaled no imminent accord with China. Meanwhile, the Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady when policymakers conclude their meeting on Wednesday, despite Trump ratcheting up pressure on Chair Jerome Powell, saying last week's surprisingly strong...