The UK manufacturing sector activity quickened its pace of expansion in the month of March, the final report from IHS Markit confirmed on Thursday. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was revised higher to 58.9 in March versus 57.9 expected and 57.9 first readout.
Read More »Reuters: OPEC+ Hesitant Between Extending oil Production Cuts and Increasing Supplies
Sources in OPEC + told Reuters that the group will discuss two main options for oil policy in May and after that, including an extension of existing cuts and a gradual increase in production. Two sources said the increase would not exceed 0.5 million barrels per day.
Read More »French Minister of Health: The Peak of Corona’s Infection May be Within 10 Days
French Health Minister Olivier Ferrand told Radio France Inter that the country could reach the peak of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic within 7 to 10 days after President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday new restrictions to combat the pandemic. Macron ordered the imposition of the third general …
Read More »Oil Gaining as OPEC+ Meets to Decide on Production Policy
Oil prices rose on Thursday, April 1, to offset some of the losses incurred in the previous session, as hopes grew that OPEC and its allies, who will meet later today, will decide to continue curbing production in the face of a new rise in Covid-19 infections in some areas. …
Read More »Gold Recovering From a 3-Week Low as The Dollar’s Rise Has Been Halted
Gold rose again Thursday, April 1, from a three-week low it reached in the previous session, as the US dollar and Treasury yields declined, while President Joe Biden’s plan of more than $2 trillion for jobs provided further support for the yellow metal’s appeal as a hedge against inflation. And …
Read More »European Stocks Enter a New Quarter With Limited Gains
European stocks began the new quarter with limited gains Thursday, April 1, as concerns about another wave of Covid-19, with France imposing a third lockdown measure, overshadowed optimism about a new spending plan for the US government. The European Stoxx600 index rose 0.2% in early trade, hovering three points below …
Read More »Japan Stocks Rise on Tech Sector
Japanese stocks rose Thursday, April 1st, as investors snapped up shares of semiconductor companies on the first day of the new fiscal year, thanks to hopes for strong corporate business results. The benchmark Nikkei index closed 0.72% higher at 29,388.87 points, while the broader Topix index increased 0.19% to 1,957.64 …
Read More »Wall Street Maintains Gains for Fourth Straight Quarter
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) finished Wednesday’s trading session with a mixed performance, as the technology sector rebounded. Meanwhile, the main three indices on Wall Street closed March with the fourth consecutive quarterly gains, supported by an improved sentiment towards economic recovery. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 85.41 …
Read More »USD Posts Best Quarterly Gains Since 2018
The U.S. Dollar (USD) saw a mixed performance on Wednesday, but managed to finish March and the First Quarter (Q1) of the year with large gains. Today, the greenback reached its highest level against the Japanese Yen (JPY) in about a year, supported by improved sentiment about economic recovery, however, …
Read More »U.S. Dollar’s Share in Currency Reserves Declines to 25-Year Low
The U.S. Dollar (USD) share of global currency reserves declined to its lowest level since 1995 during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2020, according to data by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released on Wednesday. However, the USD continued to account for more than half of currency reserves, reaching a …
Read More »