Stock Markets Net Chng Stock Markets Net Chng S&P/ASX 200** NZX 50** 43.92 7,343.90 34.00 11,917.5
DJIA 33,884.33 199.54 NIKKEI** 28,082.70 159.33
Nasdaq FTSE**
12,040.25 8.37 7,824.84 39.12
S&P 500 4,123.60 14.66 Hang Seng**
20,309.86 -175.38
SPI 200 Fut STI**
7,389.00 29.00 3,286.12 -11.71
SSEC** KOSPI**
3,327.18 13.61 2,550.64 2.78
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Bonds Bonds
JP 10 YR Bond KR 10 YR Bond
0.471 0.005 3.258 -0.005
AU 10 YR Bond US 10 YR Bond
3.281 0.019 3.4243 -0.01
NZ 10 YR Bond US 30 YR Bond
4.04 0 3.6542 0.033
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Currencies
SGD US$ KRW US$
1.328 -0.0046 1,321.42 -0.61
AUD US$ NZD US$
0.6699 0.00455 0.622 0.0031
EUR US$ Yen US$
1.0998 0.0088 133.2 -0.45
THB US$ PHP US$
34.15 -0.11 55.22 0.168
IDR US$ INR US$
14,875 -6 81.95 -0.09
MYR US$ TWD US$
4.41 -0.006 30.505 0.03
CNY US$ HKD US$
6.8721 -0.0134 7.8499 0.0005
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Commodities
Spot Gold Silver (Lon)
2,016.08 12.9391 25.4915 0.4165
U.S. Gold Fut 2,025.30 Brent Crude
6.30 87.28 1.67
Iron Ore CNY788 TRJCRB Index
-1.50 - -
TOCOM Rubber JPY207.3 LME Copper 8,942.50 89.5
0.5
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** indicates closing price
All prices as of 18:19 GMT
EQUITIES GLOBAL - Government bonds and a gauge of global stocks rallied on Wednesday after data showed cooler-than-expected headline inflation in March, suggesting the Federal Reserve may pause monetary tightening following one more rate hike in May. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.53%, while the pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.28%. For a full report, click on - - - -
NEW YORK - U.S. stock indexes gave up most of their gains on Wednesday as investors reassessed the outlook for U.S. monetary policy following inflation data, while focus shifted to minutes from the Federal Reserve's March meeting. At 12:03 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 91.94 points, or 0.27%, at 33,776.73, the S&P 500 was up 8.90 points, or 0.22%, at 4,117.84, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 7.99 points, or 0.07%, at 12,039.86. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - Europe's blue-chip stocks hit their highest in 22 years on Wednesday as investors sought mega-cap quality stocks and as investors weighed whether the Federal Reserve could pause its rate hikes after evidence of cooling U.S. inflation. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended 0.1% higher, also having chopped early gains. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average rallied for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, helped by signs of consumer spending in department stores and spillover from optimism over billionaire Warren Buffett eyeing increasing investments in the country. The Nikkei hit a one-week high in the morning and closed 0.6% higher at 28,082. The broader Topix rose 0.8%. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - Hong Kong stocks finished lower on Wednesday as heightened Sino-U.S. tensions dented sentiment, while investors are closely watching U.S. inflation print, due later in the day. China shares were mixed. China's blue-chip CSI300 Index closed down 0.1%, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.4%. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - Australian shares extended gains for a second straight session on Wednesday led by mining stocks, while investors keenly awaited key U.S. inflation data for clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy path. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.5% to 7,343.90, its highest closing level since March 7. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - South Korean shares ended little changed on Wednesday, as investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. inflation data.
The benchmark KOSPI closed up 2.78 points, or 0.11%, to 2,550.64, just enough to extend its rising streak to a fourth straight session and hit a fresh 10-month high. For a full report, click on - - - -
FOREIGN EXCHANGE NEW YORK - The dollar dropped sharply on Wednesday after data showed U.S. consumer prices rose less than expected in March, raising expectations that the Fed is likely to stop hiking rates after a possible increase in May. The dollar index was last at 101.68, down 0.41% on the day and below the level of around 102.11 before the data. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - China's yuan weakened against the dollar on Wednesday after patchy economic data suggested local rate cuts may be needed but the currency held tight ranges as investors awaited U.S. inflation data that could influence Federal Reserve policy. The spot yuan opened at 6.8900 per dollar and was changing hands at 6.8885 at midday, 30 pips weaker than the previous late session close and 0.05% away from the midpoint. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - The Australian and New Zealand dollars were mostly steady on Wednesday, as traders braced for the release of U.S. inflation data later in the day that could determine the future path of interest rates from the Federal Reserve. The Aussie edged 0.2% higher to $0.6664. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - The won weakened on Wednesday, while the benchmark bond yield was flat. The won ended onshore trade 0.26% lower at 1,325.7 per dollar. For a full report, click on - - - -
TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields were moderately lower on Wednesday after plunging earlier, as data showing cooler-than-expected headline inflation for March but still elevated core consumer prices suggested the Federal Reserve could still raise interest rates at the next policy meeting - but may pause after that. In midday trading, U.S. 10-year yields fell 2.1 bps to 3.413%. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - Euro zone government bond yields jumped on Wednesday in afternoon trading in Europe, despite data showing that U.S. inflation cooled in March. Germany's 2-year bond yield , which is sensitive to changes in interest rate expectations, initially fell after the U.S. data. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Japanese government bonds handed back recent gains in thin trade on Wednesday, as investors awaited U.S. inflation data and positioned for possible policy changes under the Bank of Japan's new governor. Ten-year Japanese government bond yields , which are the target of the BOJ's yield curve control policy, rose one basis point to 0.46% - not far from the 0.5% cap the central bank keeps to try and spur inflation and growth. For a full report, click on COMMODITIES
GOLD Gold jumped on Wednesday as signs of cooling inflation bolstered bets that a pause in U.S. rate increases was imminent, although traders positioned for one more hike in May with minutes from the Federal Reserve's March meeting also in focus. Spot gold was up 0.4% at $2,010.42 per ounce by 1:34 p.m. EDT (17:34 GMT), after rising as much as 1.3% earlier. U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,025.30. For a full report, click on - - - -
IRON ORE
Dalian iron ore futures edged up on Wednesday as China's robust loan growth in the first quarter bolstered hopes for an economic rebound for the world's biggest steel producer, though traders remained wary of growth and regulatory risks. The most-traded September iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange ended daytime trade 0.3% higher at 788 yuan ($114.42) a tonne. For a full report, click on - - - -
BASE METALS
Copper prices rose on Wednesday as lower than expected U.S. inflation numbers suggested interest rates there may not have to rise too much further. Benchmark LME copper was up 1% at $8,942.50 a tonne by 1605 GMT. For a full report, click on - - - -
OIL
Oil prices rose 2% on Wednesday as cooling U.S. inflation data spurred hopes that the Federal Reserve is getting closer to ending its cycle of interest rate hikes and cushioned the impact of a small build in U.S. crude oil stocks. Brent crude gained $1.79, or 2.1%, to $87.40 a barrel by 1 p.m. EDT For a full report, click on - - - -
PALM OIL
Malaysian palm oil futures slipped on Wednesday to its lowest closing in 12 days as weak April exports and forecasts of higher output weighed on market sentiment. The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed down 113 ringgit, or 2.91%, to 3,775 ringgit ($856.01) a tonne, its biggest daily loss since March 22. For a full report, click on - - - -
RUBBER
Japanese rubber futures edged higher on Wednesday, as wintering season put upward
pressure on prices, but a bleak global economic forecast dampened trader sentiment.
Osaka Exchange's rubber contract for September delivery , finished
1.8 yen, or 0.9%, higher at 206.8 yen ($1.55) per kg.
For a full report, click on - - - -
(Bengaluru Bureau; +91 80 6749 1130)
