Market Update

Data from Japan’s Finance Ministry showed on Monday that the country’s exports jumped 16.1% in March compared to the same period a year ago, as demand for goods recovered from low levels reached last year due to the pandemic. The reading compares with an 11.6 increase that economists had forecast …

The gold rose on Monday, hovering near a seven-week high it reached in the previous session, as prices were supported by the drop in the dollar and the decline in US Treasury bond yields. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1777.65 an ounce, after hitting its highest level since February 25 …

Japan’s TOPIX reversed direction to close lower on Monday, while the Nikkei was little changed on concerns about mounting COVID-19 infections, overshadowing gains in chip-related stocks. The broader TOPIX index fell 0.22% to close at 1956.56 points, while the Nikkei index trimmed its gains to close, up 0.01% to 29,685.37 …

The United States Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, the newest member to join the Fed’s board, said on Friday the U.S. economy will see strong performance this year as the economy reopens and more people gets vaccinated. “I think the economy is ready to rip. Everyone is getting a lot …

Oil prices declined on Friday falling to keep a perfect score this week after rising for four consecutive sessions, thus limiting their weekly gains. Brent crude futures for June delivery lost 17 cents, or 0.3%, to finish at $66.77 per barrel, registering a weekly rise of 6.1%. Meanwhile, the West …

Gold prices rose on Friday for the second consecutive session to expand their strong weekly gains. A fluctuating performance by the U.S. Dollar (USD) and a decline in Treasury bond yields helped the yellow metal notch its biggest weekly rise since the beginning of the year. Gold futures for June …

European stocks maintained its rally on Friday to new record highs, finishing the week with another positive performance on the back of strong economic data and recovery signs. The STOXX Europe 600 index rose by 0.9% to settle at a new all-time high of 442.20 points. The auto sector, which …

The number of active rigs drilling for crude oil in the United States increased by seven to reach a total count of 344 this week, according to data by Baker Hughes reported on Friday. With natural gas rigs unchanged, the total rig count went up by seven rigs to 439.

The U.S. Index of Consumer Sentiment rose by 1.9% this month to 86.5 from 84.9 in March, and by 20.5% on an annual basis compared with its level in April 2020, data by the University of Michigan showed on Friday. The Current Economic Conditions Index also increased by 4.5% to …

Building permits in the United States increased by 2.7% in March, data showed on Friday. The permits for future homebuilding reached a rate of 1.766 million units last month This increase comes following an 8.8% decline in February. Meanwhile, building permits surged by 30.2% on an annual basis.