Market Update

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this morning showed that the retail sales index posted better-than-market expectations, rising by 4.1% in July compared to 3.3 in June. This indicator is a measure of consumer spending, which represents the majority of economic activity in general and affects the stock …

Data showed that Turkey’s economy shrank 9.9% in Q2 of the year, as the general lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic caused an almost complete halt of economic activities, representing the worst performance on an annual basis in ten years. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, the decline in GDP, …

The dollar is heading to record a loss for the fourth consecutive month after a shift in the US Federal Reserve’s policy on inflation, while the euro is poised to record a fourth month of gains, which puts the two currencies at levels not seen since 2018. Investors are adapting …

Gold reversed its trend to decline on Monday, August 31, as the dollar recovered some of its losses, despite the US Federal Reserve’s new policy framework, which indicates that interest rates will remain near zero for a longer time, has limited the losses of the yellow metal, which is considered …

European stocks opened higher on Monday, August 31, as heavyweight oil and gas companies were supported by higher crude prices, while positive service sector data from China boosted optimism about an economic recovery. The Stoxx600 index of European shares rose 0.4% in early trading, consolidating the small gains made last …

Japanese stocks closed higher on Monday, August 31, recovering from heavy losses seen in the previous session, as concerns over the resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eased thanks to speculation that his potential successor will continue his current policies. The benchmark Nikkei Index rose 1.12% to 23,139.76 points, and …

FX option expiries for Aug 31 NY cut at 10:00 Eastern Time, via DTCC, can be found below. – EUR/USD: EUR amounts 1.1750 536m1.1800 1.1bn1.1900 1.4bn  – GBP/USD: GBP amounts         1.3250 272m – USD/JPY: USD amounts          104.50 378m105.00 754m105.25 575m105.75 457m106.00 438m

Chinese manufacturing activity growth slowed this month, dropping to 51 points from 51.1 in July, as floods in southwest China disrupted production. With the recorded slowdown, however, Chinese manufacturing activity remained above 50 points, which is the separating point between expansion and contraction, which indicates that the Chinese economy continues …

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) finished higher on Friday, extending their weekly and monthly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher by 161.60 points or 0.57% at 28,653.87, rising by 2.6% for the week. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index finished at 3,508.01, after rising by 23.46 or 0.67%, …

Oil prices settled lower on Friday, but recorded weekly gains mostly due to output disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico that resulted from Hurricane Laura. Brent crude futures for October delivery decreased by 4 cents, or 0.09%, and finished at $45.05 per barrel, rising by 1.6% for the week. The …