Market Update

The Reuters Tankan survey showed that the confidence of Japanese manufacturers had stabilized in January, to become less pessimistic in more than a year about the repercussions of Covid-19, but service companies increased pessimism in conjunction with the start of new closures involving the majority of the country’s population. The …

Chinese retail sales rose 4.6% year-on-year last month, while analysts’ expectations were higher at 5.5% growth, and compared to 5% growth in November. Fixed asset investment increased 2.9% in 2020, compared to expectations for a 3.2% growth and a 2.5% rise in the first eleven months of the year.

According to data released, China’s industrial output rose at a faster-than-expected rate of 7.3% in December compared to a year ago, to continue growth for the ninth month in a row in a continuation of the post-Covid recovery in the huge manufacturing sector, supported by strong exports. Analysts polled by …

The President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, revealed late yesterday a new government stimulus plan worth $1.9 trillion to help the economy face the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, under the name “The American Rescue Plan.” The plan will grant a monthly payment of $2,000 per household by adding …

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) closed Friday on a lower note, with the main indices ending the week with the biggest losses since the end of October. Weak economic data prompted concerns about the state of the economy, which still struggles with the Coronavirus pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial …

Treasury yields in the United States declined on Friday, after data showed that the American economy continues to suffer from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Yield on the 10-year Treasury bonds went down by 3.1 basis points to 1.097%, declining by 0.8 basis point compared to its level by …

Oil prices declined on Friday, giving up most of their weekly gains in a correction wave that follows recent surges amid continuous concerns about the rising number of new Coronavirus cases. Brent crude futures for March delivery declined by $1.32, or 2.3%, to close at $55.10 per barrel. For the …

Active rigs drilling for oil in the United States increased by 12 to 287 this week, according to the weekly report released on Friday by Baker Hughes. This is the eight consecutive weekly rise for the U.S. oil rig count. The total rig count, representing the number of active rigs …

Gold prices declined on Friday as the U.S. Dollar (USD) continued to show some rebound signs across the board. Gold futures for February delivery lost $26.30, or 1.4%, to close the week at the level of $1,825.10 per ounce. The most active yellow metal contracts have registered a weekly decline …

Consumer sentiment in the United States slightly declined during the first half of January after the attack of the U.S. Capitol sparked political uncertainty and as the number of new Coronavirus cases continues to surge with a slow rollout of vaccines. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to …