Today’s News Update – 9th Feb 2024
Asia
Japan’s Nikkei led gains in Asia-Pacific markets on Thursday, reaching fresh 34-year highs, following a report suggesting that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) would not aggressively tighten its monetary policy. The Nikkei 225 ended 2.06% higher at 36,863.28, and the Topix closed 0.5% higher at 2,562.63. BOJ deputy governor Shinichi Uchida indicated that the central bank was unlikely to aggressively raise interest rates. China’s January consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.8% year-on-year, and the Reserve Bank of India held its repo rate at 6.5%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 1.34%, impacted by Alibaba missing revenue expectations. The mainland Chinese CSI 300 inched 0.64% higher, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 extended gains for a third straight day. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.41%, while the Kosdaq gained 1.81%.
US
Stocks were mixed during Thursday trading, with the S&P 500 on the brink of breaching the 5,000 milestone for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the broad-based index showed little change, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.2%. Despite the potential achievement of 5,000, some investors expressed concerns about the concentrated leadership in mega-cap technology stocks and questioned the sustainability of the rally. Strong earnings and the ongoing rise in technology stocks have contributed to recent market gains.
Commodity
Crude oil prices climbed for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday after the U.S. targeted a militant commander in Iraq and Israel rejected a ceasefire proposal by Hamas.
The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures contract increased by $2.19, or 2.97%, reaching $76.05 per barrel. Simultaneously, the Brent contract for April gained $2.20, or 2.78%, settling at $81.41 a barrel.
Meanwhile, gold prices faced a decline on Thursday due to a stronger dollar and elevated bond yields. The prospect of an early interest rate cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve waned, impacting gold’s performance. Spot gold dipped 0.1% to $2,031.69 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures lost 0.2%, settling at $2,046.9 per ounce.
