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Shares were mostly higher Monday in Europe and Asia after strong data on the U.S. economy sent Wall Street to its best close in six weeks. Germany's DAX gained 0.4% to 15,644.08 and the CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.7% at 7,397.31. London's FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower to 7,941.38. The future for the S&P 500 gained 0.2% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.2%. On Friday, the S&P 500 rose 1.6% to cap its first winning week in the last four as easing yields in the bond market relieved pressure on Wall Street. It's found some stability following a swift rise and fall to start the year. The Dow industrials climbed 1.2%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 2%. In Asian trading Monday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.2% to 20,603.19 and the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.2% to 3,322.03. At the annual session of China's rubberstamp legislature, the government set this year's economic growth target at around 5% as it tries to rebuild business activity following the end .
The rupee gained 9 paise to 81.29 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday supported by broad dollar weakness and a firm trend in domestic equities. Forex traders said sustained foreign fund outflows weighed on investor sentiments and restricted the appreciation bias. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 81.29 against the dollar, registering a rise of 9 paise over its previous close. On Friday, it depreciated by 8 paise to close at 81.38 against the US dollar. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.32 per cent to 101.87. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.53 per cent to USD 84.83 per barrel. According to Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities, the Indian rupee opened stronger on Monday, tracking a weak dollar and a possibility of smaller rate hike from the US Fed in February. Most of the Asian peers were stronger this morning, and stable
Shares slipped Wednesday in Europe and Asia ahead of the latest update on US economic growth, while oil prices were lower. The Commerce Department was due to release a report on first-quarter gross domestic product later in the day. Investors worried by uncertainty over inflation, rising interest rates and the potential for a recession also were awaiting remarks by central bank leaders including Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Germany's DAX lost 1.2 per cent to 13,071.73, while the CAC 40 in Paris was almost unchanged at 6,049.31. Britain's FTSE 100 shed 0.5 per cent to 7,287.26. The futures for the Dow industrials and S&P 500 were up 0.1 per cent. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 fell 2 per cent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.6 per cent, and the Nasdaq fell 3 per cent after a survey showed weaker than expected consumer confidence in the US, mainly due to surging prices. A weaker-than-expected US consumer confidence reading highlighted worsening consumer expectations due to ...
Global stock markets were mixed Tuesday after a bond sell-off on Wall Street fuelled anxiety about a possible U.S. economic slowdown and Australia raised interest rates. London, Shanghai and Hong Kong declined. Frankfurt opened higher and Tokyo gained. The yen, trading at two-decade lows, fell further to almost 133 to the dollar. Wall Street futures were lower after the benchmark S&P 500 index rose 0.3% on Monday and the market price of a 10-year Treasury bond fell. That increased its yield, or the difference between the day's price and the payout at maturity. The difference between short- and long-term Treasury yields is narrowing, which is making me a little nervous, because it suggests investors think a U.S. recession is more likely, said Jeffrey Halley of Oanda in a report. I don't think the U.S. is at stagflation yet, or a period with high inflation and low growth, but if oil stays above $120.00 a barrel, it might soon be, Halley said. In early trading, the FTSE 100 in Londo