Stock Markets Net Chng Stock Markets Net Chng S&P/ASX 200** 7,314 -21.8 NZX 50** -7.274 11,794.22
DJIA** 32,970.97 -158.62 NIKKEI** 27,104.32 -368.78
Nasdaq** -2.83 FTSE**
11,492.301 7,930.63 -47.12
S&P 500** 3,983.28 -14.06 Hang Seng**
20,423.84 -105.65
SPI 200 Fut STI**
7,223 -25.00 3,300.04 -6.82
SSEC** KOSPI**
3,291.1477 -15.38 2,417.68 -41.28
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Bonds Net Chng Bonds Net Chng
JP 10 YR Bond KR 10 YR Bond
0.504 0 3.646 0.046
AU 10 YR Bond US 10 YR Bond
3.879 0.022 3.9234 -0.03
NZ 10 YR Bond US 30 YR Bond
4.54 0.02 3.9299 -0.046
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Currencies Net Chng Net Chng
SGD US$ KRW US$
1.3411 0.0005 1,302.79 -2.96
AUD US$ NZD US$
0.67995 -0.00565 0.6218 0.0006
EUR US$ Yen US$
1.0601 -0.0045 134.96 -0.03
THB US$ PHP US$
34.62 0.05 55.15 0.13
IDR US$ INR US$
15,200 15 82.83 -0.014
MYR US$ TWD US$
4.439 0.0085 30.504 0.089
CNY US$ HKD US$
6.89 0.0208 7.8456 0.0015
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Commodities Net Chng Net Chng
Spot Gold Silver (Lon)
1,825 -9.3232 21.4847 -0.3421
U.S. Gold Fut 1,835.10 -7.40 Brent Crude
80.51 -2.54
Iron Ore 126.34 1.40 TRJCRB Index
- -
TOCOM Rubber JPY225.4 LME Copper 9,103.40 91.05
-0.3
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** indicates closing price
All prices as of 20:12 GMT EQUITIES GLOBAL - Global equities and U.S. Treasury yields were lower on Wednesday as investors awaited the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes that are expected to shed light on the trajectory of interest rates. The MSCI world equity index , which tracks shares in 50 countries, was down 0.20%. For a full report, click on - - - - NEW YORK - Wall Street's main indexes held steady on Wednesday in the wake of the publication of the minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting. By 2:12 p.m. EST (1912 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.54 points, or 0.01%, to 33,134.13, the S&P 500 gained 6.22 points, or 0.16%, to 4,003.56 and the Nasdaq Composite added 45.91 points, or 0.4%, to 11,538.21. For a full report, click on - - - - LONDON - European shares dropped on Wednesday as upbeat economic data spurred fears that interest rates could stay higher for longer, while investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the release of minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest meeting. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 0.3% lower with focus on Fed minutes that could provide more cues on the monetary policy tightening path of the world's most influential central bank. For a full report, click on - - - - TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average ended at a one-month low on Wednesday under broad selling pressure piled on by rising global political tensions and worries that U.S. rate hikes will end up slowing down the world's economy. The Nikkei lost 1.34% to close at 27,104.32, lowest since Jan. 23, and posted its steepest daily decline since Jan. 19. For a full report, click on - - - - SHANGHAI - China and Hong Kong stocks finished lower on Wednesday, as geopolitical tensions ahead of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Wall Street selloff overnight dragged the markets. China's blue-chip CSI300 Index lost 0.90%, while the Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.47%. For a full report, click on - - - - AUSTRALIA - Australian shares are expected to slide lower at open on Thursday as a fall in commodity prices could weigh on the index, while uncertainty around rate hikes from local central banks of Australia and New Zealand and U.S. Federal Reserve could further dampen investor sentiments.
The local share price index futures fell 0.4%, a 95.5-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark closed 0.3% lower on Wednesday.
For a full report, click on - - - - SEOUL - South Korean shares dropped on Wednesday to their lowest close in a month, weighed down by worries that the U.S. Federal Reserve would deliver more rate increases. The benchmark KOSPI fell 41.28 points, or 1.68%, to 2,417.68 by the close of the session. The index marked the biggest daily percentage fall since Feb. 6 and the lowest closing level since Jan. 20. For a full report, click on - - - - FOREIGN EXCHANGE NEW YORK - The dollar gained modestly on Wednesday against its peers as recent strong economic data eased recession fears but reinforced concerns that the Federal Reserve’s inflation-fighting interest rate hikes may stick around for longer. The dollar index up 0.1% at 104.19, but off the high of 104.34 reached earlier in the day. For a full report, click on - - - - CHINA - China's yuan weakened to a seven-week low on Wednesday, weighed down by a buoyant dollar after an unexpected rebound in U.S. business activities fuelled expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer. Onshore, spot yuan opened at 6.8792 per dollar and was changing hands at 6.8930 at midday, 60 pips weaker than the previous late session close and 0.25% away from the midpoint. For a full report, click on - - - - AUSTRALIA - The New Zealand dollar perked up on Wednesday after its central bank delivered a hawkish rate rise, while the Aussie dipped on softer-than-expected wage data that eased fears of a price-wage spiral and raised prospects for a soft landing. The kiwi dollar climbed 0.5% to $0.6248 , before easing a little to $0.6224. It eased 0.6% overnight as demand for the U.S. dollar surged on a surprise rebound in business activity in the United States that raised concern that interest rates there will be kept higher for longer. FRX/ For a full report, click on - - - - SEOUL - The Korean won hit a two-month low, while the benchmark bond yield rose. The won ended onshore trade 0.69% lower at 1,304.9 per dollar, after touching its lowest level since Dec. 19, 2022 at 1,306.2. For a full report, click on - - - - TREASURIES NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields fell on Wednesday after surging to three-month highs on Tuesday ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve minutes later in the session, with bond investors still expecting yields to go higher amid a spate of strong economic data. U.S. 10-year yields hit new three-month highs earlier on Wednesday, before coming down to trade 4.7 basis points lower at 3.915%.
For a full report, click on - - - - LONDON - Euro zone government bond yields hit their highest levels in over a decade on Wednesday on expectations for further monetary tightening as investors waited for minutes of the latest Federal Reserve policy meeting. Germany's 10-year yield , the benchmark for the single currency bloc, was down 2 basis points (bps) to 2.515%, after hitting its highest since August 2011 at 2.57%. For a full report, click on - - - - TOKYO - Japan's 10-year government bond yield on Wednesday breached the top end of the Bank of Japan's policy band for a second straight session, prompting the central bank to step into the market with emergency bond buying and offering of loans. The yield on 10-year JGBs JP10YTN=JBTC climbed to 0.505% on Wednesday, breaking through the central bank's 0.5% cap and marking its highest level since Jan. 18. It last traded at 0.5%. For a full report, click on COMMODITIES GOLD Gold prices were steady on Wednesday as investors held back from making large bets ahead of the release of minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting. Spot gold held its ground at $1,832.90 per ounce, as of 12:20 a.m. EST (1720 GMT). For a full report, click on - - - - IRON ORE Iron ore futures were subdued on Wednesday following an extended rally spurred by optimism around China demand prospects, after the country's Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) adjusted trading limits for certain contracts. The DCE's most-traded May iron ore ended daytime trade 0.4% lower at 909.50 yuan ($131.90) a tonne, after five straight sessions of gains. For a full report, click on - - - - BASE METALS Copper prices slumped on Wednesday on worries of more central bank rate hikes that could curb economic activity and sluggish demand in top metals consumer China. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 1% at $9,107 a tonne at 1700 GMT after rising on Tuesday to its highest since Feb. 2. For a full report, click on - - - - OIL Oil prices fell by $2 per barrel to their lowest in two weeks on Wednesday, as investors became more concerned that recent economic data will mean more aggressive interest rate increases by central banks, pressuring economic growth and fuel demand. Brent crude futures for April delivery were down $2.33, or 2.8%, to $80.72 a barrel at 2:20 p.m. EST (1920 GMT), while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped by $2.31, or 3%, to $74.05 a barrel. For a full report, click on - - - - PALM OIL Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Wednesday, tracking overnight strength in U.S. soyoil prices amid concerns over crop losses in drought-hit Argentina, but their reversal during Asia hours capped palm oil's gains. The benchmark palm oil contract for May delivery ended the afternoon trade at 4,148 ringgit ($934.44) per tonne, up 0.17%. The contract rose as much as 2.08% earlier in the day, hitting its highest since Jan. 4, before erasing some of its gains. For a full report, click on - - - - RUBBER Japanese rubber futures dipped on Wednesday to snap a three-session rally, tracking losses in the Shanghai market and domestic equities, while expectations of a contraction in domestic manufacturing activity added pressure. The Osaka Exchange's (OSE) rubber contract for August delivery , finished 0.6 yen, or 0.3%, lower at 225.7 yen ($1.67) per kg. For a full report, click on - - - - (Bengaluru Bureau; +91 80 6749 1130)
