Stock Markets Net Chng Stock Markets Net Chng S&P/ASX 200** NZX 50** -129.82 7,197.40 -70.00 11,907.99
DJIA 33,722.38 37.85 NIKKEI** 29,157.95 34.77
Nasdaq FTSE**
12,172.724 92.22 7,788.37 15.34
S&P 500 4,132.11 12.53 Hang Seng**
19,699.16 -234.65
SPI 200 Fut STI**
7,194.00 -6.00 3,262.01 -19.98
SSEC** KOSPI**
3,323.27 37.39 2,501.4 -22.99
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Bonds Bonds
JP 10 YR Bond KR 10 YR Bond
0.42 -0.001 3.329 -0.043
AU 10 YR Bond US 10 YR Bond
3.378 -0.034 3.3956 -0.043
NZ 10 YR Bond US 30 YR Bond
4.143 -0.015 3.7101 -0.022
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Currencies
SGD US$ KRW US$
1.3303 -0.0046 1,328.65 -13.56
AUD US$ NZD US$
0.6688 0.0025 0.6247 0.004
EUR US$ Yen US$
1.1068 0.0069 135.35 -1.18
THB US$ PHP US$
33.89 -0.19 55.31 -0.08
IDR US$ INR US$
14,680 -20 81.665 -0.085
MYR US$ TWD US$
4.45 -0.012 30.746 -0.036
CNY US$ HKD US$
6.9179 -0.0024 7.8499 0.0002
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Commodities
Spot Gold Silver (Lon)
2,024.71 8.432 25.4502 0.0627
U.S. Gold Fut 2,033.50 38.8 Brent Crude
72.55 -2.77
Iron Ore - TRJCRB Index
- - -
TOCOM Rubber JPY211.3 LME Copper 8,481.5 -38.5
-1.9
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** indicates closing price
All prices as of 18:15 GMT
EQUITIES GLOBAL - Wall Street's major indexes were struggling for direction on Wednesday while U.S. Treasury yields fell with traders awaiting an interest rate hike from the U.S. Federal Reserve and for its view on the path forward for rates. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.29% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.12%. For a full report, click on - - - -
NEW YORK - Wall Street's main indexes were muted on Wednesday as investors steered clear of big bets ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision later in the day, while regional banks took a breather after a steep selloff in the previous session. At 11:35 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 35.48 points, or 0.11%, at 33,649.05, the S&P 500 was up 0.58 point, or 0.01%, at 4,120.16, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 22.13 points, or 0.18%, at 12,102.64. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - European shares climbed on Wednesday, a day after their biggest fall in a month, as speculation mounted the U.S. Federal Reserve might deliver its last interest rate hike, while energy stocks extended declines. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended up 0.3%, after closing at its lowest level in one month on Tuesday. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Most Japanese shares declined on Tuesday as jitters surrounding the U.S. banking system weighed on domestic financial stocks, while exporters got a lift from a weaker yen. The Nikkei share average touched a 16-month peak of 29,278.80 earlier in the session. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - Hong Kong stocks snapped a four-session rally on Wednesday, as investors remained concerned that a softening U.S. economy and troubles in the country's regional lenders could slow Asia's growth. The Hang Seng Index ended 1.18% lower, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 1.36%. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - Australian shares on Wednesday marked their worst day in almost seven weeks, as risk-averse sentiment forced investors to sell banking and energy stocks a day after the central bank stunned markets with a surprise quarter-point rate hike. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 1.0% to 7,197.4 points at the close of trade to hit its lowest level since March 31. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - South Korean shares fell nearly 1% on Wednesday amid caution ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision due later in the day.
The benchmark KOSPI fell 22.99 points, or 0.91%, to 2,501.40 by the close of the session. For a full report, click on - - - -
FOREIGN EXCHANGE NEW YORK - The dollar fell on Wednesday before the Federal Reserve is expected to hike rates for possibly the last time this cycle, which could lead to further dollar declines. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against six others, fell 0.34% to 101.50. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - China's mainland financial markets will be closed from Monday, May 1 to Wednesday, May 3 for the Labour Day holiday. Markets will resume trade on Thursday, May 4. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - The New Zealand dollar hopped to two-week highs on Wednesday as upbeat jobs data only added to the case for a further increase in interest rates, while the Australian dollar struggles with another bout of global risk aversion. The kiwi climbed 0.6% to $0.6243 , after adding 0.7% overnight to break resistance around $0.6225. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - The won strengthened on Wednesday, while the benchmark bond yield fell. The won ended onshore trade at 1,338.2 per dollar, 0.29% higher than its previous close at 1,342.1. For a full report, click on - - - -
TREASURIES
NEW YORK - Long-term Treasury yields drifted lower on Wednesday while yields on shorter-dated bills ticked up, as the market awaited remarks later on Wednesday from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds fell 4.6 basis points from Tuesday's close to 3.393%, their lowest since April 7. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - Investors in euro zone government bonds waited on the sidelines on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank policy meetings. Germany's 10-year government bond yield was roughly flat at 2.249%, around 52 bps below its highest level since July 2011 hit in early March. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Japanese government bond (JGB) yields rose on Tuesday, tracking U.S. peers higher, as investors braced for a surprise from central bank meetings in the U.S. and Europe, as well as a series of overseas data releases. The 10-year JGB yield rose 1.5 basis points (bps) to 0.415% and the five-year JGB yield rose 1.5 bps to 0.120%. For a full report, click on COMMODITIES
GOLD Gold extended gains on Wednesday on a weaker dollar and lower yields amid wider economic uncertainty, while investors positioned for the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Spot gold was 0.4% higher at $2,024.19 per ounce by 1:10 p.m. EDT (1710 GMT), after touching a fresh high since April 14. For a full report, click on - - - -
IRON ORE
The Singapore Exchange will be closed for a Labour Day holiday on May 1 while the Dalian Commodity Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange will be closed over May 1-3 for the same holiday, the bourses said. Reuters will have no ferrous metals market report over May 1-3. Normal reporting will resume on May 4. For a full report, click on - - - -
BASE METALS
Aluminium and copper prices in London fell on Wednesday as investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates as concerns about global economic growth persist. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was down 0.4% at $8,481.5 a tonne by 1643 GMT, having touched a one-week high of $8,770.15 on Tuesday. Aluminium fell 1.9% to $2,321 per tonne. For a full report, click on - - - -
OIL
Oil prices fell 4% on Wednesday, extending steep losses from the previous session, as investors fretted about the health of the U.S. economy ahead of an expected Federal Reserve interest rate hike later in the day. Brent futures fell $2.85, or 3.8%, to $72.47 a barrel by 12:29 p.m. EDT (1629 GMT). The global benchmark hit a session low of $71.70 a barrel, its lowest since March 20. For a full report, click on - - - -
PALM OIL
Malaysian palm oil futures reversed early losses on Wednesday to end higher for a second session, although sluggish export shipments and poor demand weighed on prices. The benchmark palm oil contract for July delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed up 9 ringgit, or 0.26%, to 3,430 ringgit ($770.79) a tonne. For a full report, click on - - - -
RUBBER
Japanese rubber futures edged higher for a third session on Tuesday, closing at its
highest since April 3, as trading activity remained subdued due to Labour Day holidays
in China.
Osaka Exchange's rubber contract for October delivery , finished
0.4 yen, or 0.2%, higher at 213.2 yen ($1.55) per kg.
For a full report, click on - - - -
(Bengaluru Bureau; +91 80 6749 1130)
