World Markets

World shares inch higher, many Asian markets closed for Lunar New Year

Shares were higher Monday in Europe and in Asia, where most markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Germany's DAX edged 0.1 per cent higher, to 15,058.49 while the CAC 40 in Paris also gained 0.1 per cent to 7,002.30. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.2 per cent to 7,786.30. The future for the S&P 500 lost less than 0.1 per cent while the future for the Dow industrials was unchanged. In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index added 1.3 per cent to 26,906.04 as investors shrugged off Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki's comments that Japan is facing an unprecedentedly severe" financial situation after spending heavily to counter the pandemic and other troubles. Finances are the cornerstone of a country's trust," Suzuki told lawmakers in parliament. We must secure fiscal space under normal circumstances to safeguard trust in Japan and people's livelihoods in times of crisis." Japan's national debt, already more than twice its gross domestic product, has grown further as the government has

World shares mostly higher on US inflation data, tracking Wall Street gains

The futures for the S and P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1per cent lower

World markets mostly gain ahead of Federal Reserve report, US jobs data

Global stock markets and Wall Street futures were higher Tuesday ahead of updates on US jobs amid fears of a possible global recession. Frankfurt, Shanghai and Hong Kong advanced. Seoul declined. Oil prices rose. Coming off a year of big declines for major stock markets, traders worry the Federal Reserve and other central banks might be willing to push the world into recession to cool inflation that is at multi-decade highs. Investors also are uneasy about the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine and China's COVID-19 outbreaks. Almost everyone is going into 2023 with a healthy dose of trepidation, Craig Erlam of Oanda said in a report. The DAX in Frankfurt opened up 0.2 per cent at 14,093.38 while the CAC-40 in Paris was unchanged at 6,594.63. On Wall Street, the futures for the benchmark S&P 500 index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.5 per cent ahead of 2023's first day of US trading. The S&P 500 ended 2022 down 19.4 per cent, its biggest decline since the 2008 ...

India as the world's factory: China may be in denial

It is interesting that the myths around the influence of Confucianism on Southeast Asia come not from Chinese scholars but from futurologist Hermann Kahn

If history repeats itself, global equities set for brief relief in July

With world markets plunging through the first quarter of the year, narrow hopes of recovery is there if history repeats itself and global equities gain lost footing in July

World m-cap drops below $100 trn as Fed cuts rates, war continues

India's market ranking has once again slipped to seventh position as a variety of crises bother investors

World stocks dip on war, recession worries, oil falls $2 on reserve release

MSCI's global share index fell 0.17% to 710.22, against a high of 724.49 hit on Wednesday, heading for little change on the week.

World shares up, US futures sink as Russia moves toward Ukraine capital

World shares advanced Friday but US futures were lower as Russian troops pressed toward the capital of Ukraine.

World markets have not broken sweat since Russian escalation: Here's why

Yet as the world braces for a possible war in Ukraine, we still know relatively little about the interplay between conflicts and financial markets

World shares decline after Putin orders troops to eastern Ukraine

Shares fell sharply in Asia on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, suggesting a long-feared invasion was possibly underway. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index dropped 2.2per cent and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell 3.2per cent in early trading Tuesday. Oil prices jumped, with U.S. crude up 2.8per cent. The future for the S&P 500 dropped 1.7per cent while the contract for the Dow industrials lost 1.5per cent. U.S. markets were closed on Monday for Presidents Day. In Europe, shares slipped Monday as investors awaited developments in the Ukraine crisis. Germany's DAX gave up 2.1per cent. In Paris, the CAC 40 in Paris declined 2per cent. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.3per cent. Russia's MOEX index dropped nearly 11per cent. The ruble was down 3.2per cent against the U.S. dollar. Western powers fear Russia might use skirmishes in Ukraine's eastern regions as a pretext for an attack on the democracy, which has defied Moscow's ...

World stocks fall on central banks' inflation outlook, glum Facebook update

On Wall Street, Facebook-owner Meta Platforms' dour forecast sent its stock plummeting, abruptly ending a nascent recovery built on upbeat earnings from big tech companies

Sprightly European stocks greet new year by hitting record high

London's traders were enjoying their final day of festive rest, but mainland Europe saw a lively start

World shares mixed as China central bank moves to boost markets

Moving to reassure investors and keep growth from stalling, China's central bank cut the amount of funds banks are required to keep in reserve

Covid comeback caps a November to remember in world markets

Tuesday's warning from the head of drugmaker Moderna, that current vaccines are unlikely to be as effective against Omicron, made for a painful end of the month

Evergrande's EV unit admits there's no certainty it can pay debt

The EV unit is a relatively small part of Evergrande's sprawling empire, but is primarily reliant on residential apartment sales.

World shares hold steady near record highs on dovish Fed bets

By 1100 GMT, the MSCI world equity index was flat after hitting a new record high in Asian hours and following seven consecutive days of gains to record highs.

World stocks steady, Treasuries edge up as Delta variant spreads

The STOXX Europe 600 index was up 1%, recovering more than half of the prior session's decline, but still on course to record the second straight week of losses.

World stocks mixed after Wall Street rebound led by tech, financial firms

World shares were mostly higher on Friday after a broad rally led by tech and financial companies snapped a three-day losing streak on Wall Street. Germany's DAX gained 0.3% to 15,241.57 while the CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.4% to 6,315.27. Britain's FTSE 100 picked up 0.6% to 7,005.56. The future for the S&P 500 gained 0.5% while that for the Dow industrials added 0.3%. Markets rallied late in the week as prices of key commodities such as copper, zinc and aluminum slipped, alleviating concerns over inflation that had triggered sell-offs. Shares in big semiconductor manufacturers were among the biggest gainers. Japan's Nikkei 225 added 2.3% to 28,084.47 and the Kospi in Seoul picked up 1% to 3,153.32, lifted by gains for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which gained 2.3% and 1.3% after announcing plans to expand their investments in chip production and development. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng advanced 1.1% to 28,027.57. The Shanghai Composite index gained 1.8% to 3,490.38, while ...

Global stocks head for first weekly gain in three, commodities soar

S&P futures pointed to further gains, edging 0.1% higher on Friday.

World shares advance as traders await details of Joe Biden plan

Stocks advanced in most global markets Thursday as traders waited to see details of President-elect Joe Biden's plan for helping the US economy recover