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...
GBP/USD extends its winning streak for the third consecutive day, trading around 1.2460 during Thursday's Asian session. Traders await the UK's preliminary Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data due later in the day. Economists expect a contraction in Q4 GDP, though the economy is projected to expand on an annual basis. The outlook for the British economy remains uncertain, with Bank of England (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member Catherine Mann expressing concerns over weakening demand in the United Kingdom (UK) and the need for accommodative financial conditions. Earlier this week,...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) continues to decline against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday, struggling despite a rise in Australia's Consumer Inflation Expectations, which increased to 4.6% in February from 4.0% previously. The AUD/USD pair remains under pressure due to US President Donald Trump's 25% tariff hike and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's signal that the central bank is in no rush to cut interest rates further. Adding to the strain, Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, criticized Australia on Tuesday, accusing it of "killing the aluminum market" just a day after Trump signed...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) attracts some buyers following the release of stronger-than-expected Japan's Producer Price Index (PPI) on Thursday, which reaffirms bets that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will hike rates further. The market reaction, however, turns out to be short-lived amid concerns about the implications of US President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, and impending reciprocal tariffs. This assists the USD/JPY pair to hold above the 154.00 mark during the Asian session and remain close to over a one-week high touched the previous day. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve...
Silver price (XAG/USD) edges higher to $32.25 during the Asian trading hours on Thursday. Trade war concerns drive the safe-haven demand, supporting the white metal. Traders await the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims and Producer Price Index (PPI), which are due later on Thursday. US President Donald Trump on Monday imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States (US) with no exceptions or exemptions. The White House said late Wednesday that Trump could announce his reciprocal tariff plan on Thursday. Trump recently said he planned to slap reciprocal tariffs...
A gauge of the dollar held steady as investors await clarity around possible reciprocal tariffs. The euro climbed on hopes of a solution to the war in Ukraine. Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed since closing up 0.1% after data showing US inflation accelerated more than expected, prompting traders to shift bets for the next Fed rate cut to December from September. EUR/USD rose 0.2% to 1.0400 with spot holding a sentiment bid from news that President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to...