Market Update

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 1.03% on Friday, closing at 34,730.28, marking its highest finish in two weeks and notching its strongest weekly performance since mid-January, as hopes grew for progress in U.S.-led trade negotiations. The index touched an intraday high of 34,758.97 before paring slightly into the close. The …

Oil prices surged more than 3% on Thursday, marking their strongest daily gain in weeks, as optimism over a potential U.S.-European Union trade deal and fresh U.S. sanctions on Iran stoked concerns about future supply constraints. Brent crude futures settled $2.11 higher, or 3.2%, at $67.96 a barrel West Texas …

In a spirited Oval Office press conference on April 17, 2025, President Donald Trump outlined an ambitious trade agenda, emphasizing new tariffs, ongoing negotiations with China, and a firm stance on keeping U.S. Steel under American control. His remarks underscored a protectionist approach, with a focus on bolstering domestic industries …

The US dollar gained ground on Thursday, buoyed by growing optimism surrounding a potential trade agreement between the United States and Japan. News of progress in trade negotiations has eased concerns over escalating tariffs, providing a much-needed boost to the greenback after recent volatility.President Donald Trump expressed confidence in the …

The U.S. dollar caught a breather on Thursday, finding some relief despite fluctuating risk sentiment in global markets. Investors turned their focus to renewed tensions between political leadership and the Federal Reserve, with calls for lower interest rates and criticism of the Fed’s current stewardship stirring the financial landscape. These …

The stock market painted a mixed picture on Thursday, April 17, 2025, as the S&P 500 fought to recover from recent losses, gaining 0.8% in volatile trading. The Nasdaq Composite followed suit, inching up 0.4% after fluctuating throughout the day. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stumbled, shedding 300 points …

Gold prices took a breather on Thursday, easing 0.8% to $3,317.87 per ounce after hitting a record high of $3,357.40 earlier in the session. The pullback followed a robust 3.6% surge the previous day, driven by escalating trade tensions and a softer dollar. Despite the dip, bullion remains above the …

Bitcoin (BTC) is hovering just below $85,000, caught in a holding pattern as tensions escalate between U.S. President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The cryptocurrency market, already rattled by global trade uncertainties, faces fresh volatility following Trump’s reported discussions about ousting Powell, raising concerns over central bank …

The European Central Bank (ECB) has slashed interest rates for the seventh time in a year, bringing borrowing costs to their lowest since late 2022. This latest move, a unanimous 25-basis-point cut to 2.25% on April 17, 2025, marks the culmination of a series of reductions that began in June …

U.S. stock index futures showed a mixed performance Thursday, with the tech sector staging a recovery after Wednesday’s heavy losses, as optimism grew over potential trade deals between the U.S. and its key global partners. As of 06:00 ET (10:00 GMT): Dow Jones Futures declined 70 points, or 0.2% S&P …