Tag: Gold & Commodities

Nasdaq Ends Atop 16,000 Mark for the First Time on Tech Strength

The Nasdaq Composite Index closed above 16,000 points for the first time on Friday, in its second-straight record finish powered by technology stocks, while pandemic jitters sent the Dow to its fourth losing session in the last five. Both the Nasdaq and S&P 500 index scored a winning week, up 1.2 percent and 0.3 percent…


Nasdaq Futures at Record High as Economic Concerns Drive Tech Demand

Nasdaq index futures hit a record high on Friday as investors sought economically stable sectors after a small delay in voting on President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion spending bill, while rising COVID-19 cases in Europe also dented sentiment. S&P and Dow futures fell tracking losses in banks, airlines, and other economically sensitive sectors. Uncertainty over…


Euro Slumps as Austria Reimposes Lockdown; Dollar Flying High

LONDON—The euro slumped on Friday to near 16-month lows after Austria became the first country in western Europe to reimpose a full lockdown and Germany did not rule out doing the same. The single currency has been on the back foot all week, pressured by growing expectations that interest rates will be tightened faster elsewhere,…


Oil Drops Below $80 on European COVID-19 Concerns

LONDON—Oil prices dropped below $79 a barrel on Friday as a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases in Europe threatened to slow the economic recovery while investors also weighed a potential release of crude reserves by major economies to cool energy prices. Brent crude was down $2.44, or 3 percent, at $78.80 a barrel by 1110…


World Stocks Struggle Near Record Highs; Europe in Focus

LONDON—Concerns over slowing China growth and a spike in COVID-19 cases in Europe stymied the global equity markets rally on Friday with stocks struggling to cling to recent record highs and the euro looking on track for a second straight week of losses. While U.S. stocks closed at a record high on Thursday, aided by…


US Confident on Developing Business Framework With Indo-Pacific Partners: Commerce Chief

KUALA LUMPUR—The United States is confident about developing a framework with Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen business and workforce, U.S. Commerce secretary Gina Raimondo said on Thursday. Raimondo said in a teleconference call that the framework was not envisioned as a typical free trade deal, and must be inclusive, flexible so many countries can participate.


Dollar Dips From 16-Month Highs as Rally Takes a Pause

LONDON—The dollar slipped back from a 16-month peak on Thursday, losing ground on the euro and Australian and New Zealand dollars as traders assessed whether the U.S. currency’s recent surge was starting to stall. The dollar has rallied in recent weeks as traders bet on tighter U.S. monetary policy. Stronger-than-expected inflation numbers in the United…


Global Shares Mixed After US Stocks Fall Back

TOKYO—Global shares were mixed Thursday after stock indexes shuffled lower on Wall Street. France’s CAC 40 edged up nearly 0.2 percent in early trading to 7,167.47. Germany’s DAX gained 0.2 percent to 16,275.17. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.2 percent to 7,277.41. The future for the Dow industrials was trading 0.2 percent higher, while the future…


Inflation Fears Spark Renewed Gold Rally

Gold prices have slumped this year, falling about 2 percent. The stock market bull run, a strengthening U.S. dollar, and immense investor confidence have weighed on the precious metal for much of 2021. A global inflation surge and growing economic concerns have sparked a more than 5 percent gain for the yellow metal. After recently…


European Gas Prices Surge as Russian Pipeline Suffers Setbacks

MOSCOW/LONDON—European gas prices surged again on Wednesday after a delay in the approval process for a major new pipeline from Russia, which German government sources said might not now be commissioned until March next year. Germany’s energy regulator suspended the process for getting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline up and running on Tuesday, dimming hopes…