07/08/2015
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Global Commentary
Shares across Asia were mostly lower Thursday, though the Nikkei in Japan bucked the trend as it finished the session 0.24% higher. China’s Shanghai Composite continued lower, falling another 0.89% as volatility begins to decline on the mainland. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong was also 0.57% lower, following the mainland market.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 finished 1.13% lower as the banking sector was hammered lower. European markets were broadly lower ahead of the bucket of data being released today. The Stoxx Europe 600 finished off by 0.80%, with the German DAX 0.44% lower, and the CAC 40 in France retreating 0.09%. London’s FTSE pared early losses and finished 0.08% lower on a dovish Bank of England meeting.
U.S. markets finished solidly lower in a volatile session on investor jitters, as they began to believe more in a September U.S. interest rate hike. The S&P 500 was 0.78% lower, the Dow dropped 0.69%, and the Nasdaq retreated 1.62%.
FOREX
EUR – The Euro bounced Thursday, ending the day broadly higher against rival currencies.
GBP – The Pound fell broadly Thursday after the Bank of England monetary policy meeting showed a dovish tone, with just one MPC member voting for a rate hike. Markets had expected two votes for a rate hike, and sent the Pound lower on the disappointing results.
USD – The USD was mixed as it weakened late in the session and finished softer against the Euro and Yen, but remained firmer versus the Pound.
JPY – The Yen was mostly stronger Thursday, firming against the Pound and USD, but slipping slightly lower versus the Euro.
TRY – The Lira bounced higher Thursday, ending the day broadly firmer against major currencies.
Commodities
Metals – Precious metals gained on bargain hunting and short covering Thursday as a sell-off in equities and a softer USD helped boost prices. December gold was up $4.20 at $1,089.80 an ounce. September silver was up $0.127 at $14.68 an ounce.
Oil – Crude continued to slide Thursday, pressured by oversupply concerns, perceptions of a weaker Chinese economy, and the strength of the USD. Crude for September delivery dropped 49 cents, or 1.1%, to close at $44.66 a barrel.
Indices
S&P500 – The S&P opened slightly higher, but then slid steadily all morning. The market calmed in the afternoon, but still finished near session lows with a loss of 0.78% ahead of today’s non-farm payrolls report, which investors feel could give the Fed further reason to raise interest rates next month.
DAX – The DAX traded back and forth across unchanged levels in choppy trade for most of the day. Weakness from U.S. markets sent the DAX lower in the late afternoon as the German benchmark ended the day 0.44% lower. Nikkei – The Nikkei gained at the open, and despite edging gradually lower throughout the day after the initial push higher, the Nikkei was still 0.24% higher at the close.