Market Update

European shares jumped 1.2 percent in early trading on Friday, erasing losses this week, as investors awaited the first round of the French presidential election early next week, as the victory of incumbent President Emmanuel Macron is no longer a given. Financial and auto stocks led the gains, while all …

Oil prices rose on Friday but were still on track for a second weekly decline in a row after countries announced plans to release crude from their strategic stocks. Brent crude futures rose 71 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $101.29 a barrel by 1056 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude …

The dollar index rose to 100 points for the first time in nearly two years on Friday, boosted by prospects of an acceleration in US interest rates. The dollar rose against a basket of rival currencies over the past month, especially against the euro, which has come under pressure due …

The healthcare sector helped European shares on Thursday recovered from a session that saw their worst performance in a month, even as investors remained wary of the Fed’s tightening minutes and Washington’s new sanctions against Russia. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.5%, after losing 1.5% in the previous session. …

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal said on Friday that this year’s grain harvest is likely to be 20 percent below its level last year due to the shrinkage of the cultivated area after the Russian invasion. He said there is a shortage of fuel for farmers, but Ukraine knows how …

Japan’s Nikkei index recorded its worst weekly performance in almost a month on concerns about the impact of the Federal Reserve’s tightening of its monetary policies, the conflict in Ukraine, and the closure measures in China. The Nikkei index lost 2.46 percent this week, its worst performance since the week …

The market’s sentiment continued cautious as traders’ focus shifted to central banks’ hawkish rhetoric and tensions between the US allies and Russia. The US widened its actions against Moscow, hitting Russian Sberbank and Alfa Bank. Investment in Russia by American companies is banned. The EU is backing a Russian coal …

Brent crude futures fell 49 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $100.58 a barrel while WTI crude fell 20 cents, or 0.6%, to settle at $96.03 a barrel. The previous session, both benchmarks plunged more than 5% to their lowest closing levels since March 16. Oil settled lower on Thursday, …

The USD/CAD pair has witnessed a firmer upside move in the last three trading sessions, which is driving the pair nearer to 1.2600 after hitting 1.2403 low on Tuesday. The asset has managed to close above the 20-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on Thursday, which is trading at 1.2570 and …

The S&P 500 ended higher on Thursday, with Pfizer and Tesla fueling a late-session rally while investors eyed the war in Ukraine and a potentially more aggressive Fed. Tesla Inc rose 1.2% and Microsoft Corp added 0.6%, helping lift the S&P 500 and provide the Nasdaq a modest gain.Also supporting …