Japanese stocks rose in early trading on hopes of easing US-China trade tensions ahead of next week's summit. The Nikkei index rose 0.8% to 49,021.37, signaling positive sentiment across the market. The gains were led by the technology and electronics sectors. SoftBank Group rose 3.2%, and chip test equipment manufacturer Advantest gained 2.3%, driven by optimism about semiconductor demand and a robust AI ecosystem. In the forex market, USD/JPY was at 152.52 (from 152.43 at the close in Tokyo on Thursday). A weaker yen typically supports Japanese exporters, boosting export-based...
Oil edged lower as traders looked past US efforts to force India to quit buying Russian crude, and broader markets carried a risk-off tone. West Texas Intermediate fell below $64 a barrel, while Brent closed above $68. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro stepped up the pressure on New Delhi to halt purchases of Russian energy after Washington doubled a levy on imports from the country to 50%. Calling Indians "arrogant," he cast the conflict in Ukraine as "Modi's war," referencing the Indian prime minister. Financial markets including stocks were softer in...
The US dollar (USD) exchange rate experienced significant pressure in today's trading, following market concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve (The Fed), the United States' central bank. News of President Trump's plan to dismiss Fed Chair Lisa Cook sparked widespread uncertainty among market participants. Reasons for the Dollar's Decline Political intervention in the Fed is considered to diminish the central bank's credibility and independence in monetary policymaking. This has the potential to impact investor confidence in the Fed's ability to control inflation and...
The USD/JPY pair loses ground to near 147.20 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The US Dollar (USD) weakens against the Japanese Yen (JPY) as worries persist over the Federal Reserve's (Fed) independence. Traders brace for the second estimate of US Q2 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth Rate, followed by the weekly Initial Jobless Claims and Pending Home Sales reports. The Greenback remains on the defensive due to US President Donald Trump's attempt on Monday to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. On Tuesday, Trump said that he will soon have a "majority" of his own nominees on the Fed...
The EUR/USD retreats a minimal 0.10% on Wednesday as developments about the Federal Reserve's independence dissipated, while the French Prime Minister Bayrou called for a confidence vote. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.1631, after hitting a daily high of 1.1647. The narrative in the financial market remains unchanged, with the White House exerting pressure on the Federal Reserve following Trump's firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Good data in the United States (US) on Tuesday, reflected on an uptick in Durable Goods Orders and the Conference Board (CB) Consumer Confidence,...
Gold price remains steady on Wednesday, even though the Greenback recovered from earlier losses triggered by threats to the Federal Reserve's (Fed) independence. Nevertheless, Bullion sellers are not out of the woods as pressure from the White House continues. The XAU/USD trades at $3,397, up 0.12%. The US economic docket remains light, except for remarks of New York Fed President John Williams, who said that rates can fall at some point but emphasized that only data would indicate if it is appropriate to reduce rates, based on the economy's performance. In a CNBC interview, Williams added...