Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 0.96%, Shanghai Composite down 0.60%, Hang Seng down 0.53% ASX up 0.28%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,595.05 (-0.92%), Silver at $87.542 (-4.50%), Brent Oil at $64.21 (-3.32%), WTI Oil at $60.07 (-3.36%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.138, UK 10-year yield at 4.3430, Germany 10-year yield at 2.7816
News & Data:
- (USD) Core PPI m/m 0.0% to 0.2% expected
- (USD) Core Retail Sales m/m 0.5% to 0.4% expected
Markets Update:
Asian markets are trading mostly lower on Thursday, tracking broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight amid rising global geopolitical concerns. Investor sentiment has been weighed by escalating tensions, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on Greenland, political unrest in Iran, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Some profit-taking has also emerged after the recent record rally in global equities, even as Asian markets closed mostly higher on Wednesday.
Australia is an exception, with shares trading modestly higher for a fourth session. The S&P/ASX 200 is hovering near the 8,850 level, supported by gains in mining stocks amid firmer gold and iron ore prices, while other sectors show mixed performance. Major miners are advancing, although oil stocks remain under pressure. The banking sector is mixed, and technology shares are uneven.
Japanese markets are significantly lower, snapping a three-session winning streak. The Nikkei 225 slipped below 53,850, dragged down by index heavyweights and technology stocks. Losses in SoftBank, semiconductor-related stocks, and select exporters outweighed gains in automakers and banks. Economic data showed Japan’s producer prices rose modestly in December, in line with expectations.
Elsewhere in Asia, markets such as New Zealand, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan are lower, while Hong Kong, South Korea, and Indonesia are edging higher.
On Wall Street, stocks ended lower on Wednesday, led by a sharp decline in the Nasdaq. European markets were mixed, while crude oil prices jumped on supply concerns linked to potential U.S. intervention in Iran.
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