Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday, as investors keep a close watch on the People's Bank of China's decision on its 1-year and 5-year loan prime rates for July, as well as the latest developments on the trade front. Trade came into focus once again over the weekend as the White House reiterated its position on tariffs. On Sunday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Aug. 1 the "hard deadline" for countries to start paying tariffs, though he also added that "nothing stops countries from talking to us after August 1." South Korean markets started the day higher Monday. As of...
Markets are pricing in a near certainty that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by a quarter point on Wednesday, bringing the target range to 4.25% to 4.5%. The focal point for investors is central bank policymakers' economic outlook and the path forward for rate policy. The Fed will issue its decision at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, followed by Chair Jerome Powell's press conference at 2:30 p.m.Loan interest rates remain high even as Fed has reduced ratesThe Federal Reserve has dialed back interest rates by three-quarters of a point since the end of its September meeting, but...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped on Wednesday as traders looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's December interest rate decision. The Dow was higher by about 126 points, or 0.2%. The 30-stock average posted a nine-day losing streak on Tuesday, its longest since 1978. If the Dow were to fall for a 10th day on Wednesday, it would be its worst losing streak since an 11-day slide in 1974. The S&P 500 inched up 0.1%. The Nasdaq Composite was higher by 0.07%. Nvidia which fell into correction territory earlier this week, climbed more than 4%. Nvidia entered the Dow last month....
US stocks were mixed on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 trading around the flatline and the Nasdaq down 0.1% while the Dow Jones rose about 90 points, ending a nine-session losing streak, its longest since 1978. Investors are focused on the upcoming FOMC decision later in the day, where the Fed is widely expected to announce a 25bps cut to the federal funds rate. Additionally, the Fed will release its latest economic projections, including the closely watched "dot plot" that outlines policymakers' expectations for future interest rate moves. On the corporate side, Nvidia shares rose nearly...
The Hang Seng rose 164 points, or 0.9%, to close at 19,865 on Wednesday, snapping a three-session slide. The rally was driven by a significant increase in U.S. interest rate futures as investors anticipated a 25bps rate cut by the Fed later in the day and its outlook for a reduction in 2025. The index rebounded from its lowest level in more than a week amid indications that China will boost fiscal spending in 2025 by raising its budget deficit to a record 4% of GDP, up from 3% this year. Meanwhile, Chinese regulators have asked state-owned companies to boost their market value through...
European stocks opened higher on Wednesday as investors await the latest monetary policy decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Traders are pricing in a 95% chance of a quarter-point cut on Wednesday, according to CME Group's Fed Watch tool. Investors will also be looking closely at the Fed's Summary of Economic Projections and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference, for clues on what might happen in the coming months. The central bank is widely expected to temper runaway expectations for further interest rate cuts in the coming year, especially as inflation remains stubbornly...