Market Update

The Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates in December, while welcomed by some, was marked by a notable degree of caution. The minutes of the December 17-18 policy meeting, to be released on Wednesday, will offer crucial insights into the internal deliberations that shaped this decision.The 25-basis-point rate cut …

The recent decline in US jobless claims, falling to an 11-month low, offers a seemingly positive snapshot of the labour market. However, this picture is far from complete. While layoffs remain relatively low, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced reality – one of slowing hiring, prolonged unemployment for some, …

China is bracing for an unprecedented travel surge during the upcoming Lunar New Year, with authorities predicting a staggering 9 billion domestic trips during the 40-day Spring Festival period starting January 14. This forecast, despite the country’s sluggish economic recovery, reflects a deep cultural tradition of family reunions during the …

The U.S. dollar advanced for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, buoyed by strong economic data that pushed bond yields higher and diminished expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025. U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in November, while December’s services sector activity showed notable acceleration. Additionally, a surge in …

Consumer sentiment in Japan took a hit in December, as per a government survey released on Wednesday. The decline raises questions about the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) optimism that robust household spending will drive the economy and support future interest rate hikes. The sentiment index fell to 36.2 in December, …

European stocks saw modest gains on Wednesday, driven by advances in heavyweight healthcare and financial sectors, while investors remained attuned to global monetary policy signals in the New Year. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose by 0.2% as of 08:21 GMT, maintaining its position near a three-week high. Financial services led …

Oil prices gained on Wednesday, supported by tightening supplies from Russia and OPEC members, along with robust U.S. economic data suggesting potential growth in oil demand. Brent crude rose 0.5% to $77.42 per barrel by 07:30 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 0.6% to $74.69. A Reuters …

Bitcoin continued its downward trajectory on Wednesday, erasing the entirety of its recent rebound as concerns over slower-than-expected interest rate cuts in 2025 rattled risk-driven assets. After briefly surpassing the $100,000 mark during a recovery from a late-December slump, the world’s largest cryptocurrency saw sharp losses on Tuesday and Wednesday. …

US stocks experienced slid on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite falling significantly. This downturn follows a period of sustained market strength and was primarily driven by stronger-than-expected economic data that dampened expectations of imminent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.The S&P 500 declined 1.2%, while the Dow Jones …

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) has halted its recent bullish recovery, halting on the charts and cycling familiar levels against the Greenback. The Loonie has recovered some ground after tumbling to multi-year highs at the tail-end of 2024, but bullish momentum remains elusive. Canada’s Ivey Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) figures disappointed …