The Hong Kong stock market posted moderate gains on Thursday (October 16th), with the Hang Seng Index rising 96 points, or 0.37%, to 26,007. This increase occurred despite mixed performance in the technology and financial sectors. Major tech stocks like Tencent and Alibaba rose slightly, while Xiaomi fell more than 2%. In the financial sector, HSBC and AIA weakened, but Ping An Insurance and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange posted gains. Gold-linked stocks were the market's stars, boosted by the continued record-breaking global gold price. Zijin Mining and Zhaojin Mining both rallied, while a...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - The Australian dollar weakened to around US$0.656, extending its decline as the US dollar continued to strengthen. Safe-haven demand for the greenback increased as the US government shutdown entered its second week, while President Trump's threat of mass layoffs further diminished hopes for a resolution. Global risk sentiment also declined, pressuring high-beta currencies like the Aussie. On the policy front, markets reduced expectations for near-term RBA easing after last week's hawkish tone. Futures prices now price in a 35% chance of a 25 bps cut in November...
Gold reapproached the psychological $4,000/oz level on Wednesday (October 8th), extending the safe-haven rally. Spot prices briefly touched an intraday record around $3.99,000, while the most-active December New York contract—the most active—returned above $4,000. Pressure on technology stocks following news of lower-than-expected Oracle cloud margins contributed to a rotation into gold amid the protracted US government shutdown. The shutdown delayed key data releases, further clouding the Fed's interest rate cut; market participants relied on official commentary and hedged in the bond...
Oil edged higher after a mixed US inventories report, with traders also focused on the broader outlook for supply as OPEC+ presses on with output increases and American production expands. West Texas Intermediate rose above $62 a barrel after ending little changed on Tuesday, when Brent closed near $65. The industry-funded American Petroleum Institute reported a drop of 1.8 million barrels at the Cushing, Oklahoma, hub last week, as well as declines in product holdings including gasoline. Still, nationwide crude holdings were estimated to have risen. Crude remains under...
Brent crude oil futures rose from post-settlement levels Tuesday after the American Petroleum Institute reported a mix inventory report as weekly domestic crude inventories increased by more than expected, but product stockpiles including gasoline slipped. Crude Oil WTI Futures, the U.S. benchmark, recently traded at $62.04 a barrel following the report after settling up 0.1% at $61.73 barrel. U.S. crude inventories increased by about 2.8M barrels for the week ended Oct. 3, compared with a draw of about 3.7M barrels reported by the API for the previous week. The build was larger than...
Gold price rallied during the North American session and reached a record high of $3,991, before settling closer to $3,982 for a 0.60% gain. Uncertainty about the US government shutdown and expectations of lower interest rates the Federal Reserve (Fed) keep the yellow metal bid. Bullion hits fresh record highs on US fiscal gridlock, geopolitical uncertainty and central bank demandThe New York Fed revealed the Survey of Consumer Expectations (SCE) showed that inflation expectations ticked higher, while the labor market continued to deteriorate. Aside from this, Fed officials crossed the...