London (AFP) – Major stock markets mainly rose Friday as traders looked ahead to key US inflation data that could firm expectations for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates in September. Most leading Asian and European indices registered gains at the end of a volatile week for equities trading that saw tech stocks suffer a rout as earnings disappointed.
Elsewhere Friday, the dollar traded mixed against main rivals and oil prices fell. Positive performances by stock markets came despite more losses Thursday on Wall Street’s Nasdaq. “As traders draw their breath following a volatile week that saw wide swings across the equities and commodities space, we are left weighing up whether this is an opportunity or indicative of further downside to come,” noted Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets.
All eyes later Friday will be on the Fed’s preferred measure of US inflation — the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index. “A stronger than expected reading…may threaten the prospect of a September rate cut from the Fed,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB. “The Fed has remained faithfully data dependent, so if they do not see a good enough improvement in the June core PCE, then doubts might start to creep in about the potential for rate cuts this autumn.”
Figures Thursday showing the US economy expanded far more than expected in the second quarter — and much quicker than the previous three months — provided a much-needed boost to sentiment and eased concerns that it was slowing a little too much for comfort. The data was largely consumer-led, even while US interest rates remain at two-decade highs and inflation is elevated.
In Asia on Friday, the Taipei stock market plunged more than three percent as traders returned from their imposed typhoon break, with chip makers leading the losses. Market titan TSMC dived more than five percent, while ASE Technology plunged almost 10 percent.
– Key figures around 1045 GMT –
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.7 percent at 8,242.15 points
Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.9 percent at 7,494.37
Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 18,351.16
Euro STOXX 50: UP 0.9 percent at 4,853.77
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.5 percent at 37,667.41 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1 percent at 17,021.31 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 2,890.90 (close)
New York – Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 39,935.07 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0858 from $1.0848 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2873 from $1.2853
Dollar/yen: UP at 154.38 yen from 153.84 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.35 pence at 84.38 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $78.04 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $82.06 per barrel
© 2024 AFP
