Markets Track Wall St Gains Ahead Of Key Inflation Data
Muhammad Irfan Published January 11, 2024 | 06:17 PM
Stock markets rose Thursday as investors gear up for the release of major US inflation data that could have a huge bearing on the Federal Reserve's timetable for cutting interest rates
Hong Kong, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jan, 2024) Stock markets rose Thursday as investors gear up for the release of major US inflation data that could have a huge bearing on the Federal Reserve's timetable for cutting interest rates.
The positive vibes on trading floors follow gains on Wall Street, where tech firms bounced after a relatively dour start to the year and dealers were also gearing up for the start of corporate earnings season.
Meanwhile, bitcoin dipped slightly after a small rally fuelled by confirmation that US authorities had approved several exchange-traded funds for the cryptocurrency for the first time.
After the disappointment of last week's minutes showing the Fed remained keen to hold rates at 22-year highs for some time, analysts said the consumer price index reading Thursday could play a key role in near-term market dynamics.
Observers warned a miss to the upside in inflation could spark fresh selling in equities.
Dealers have struggled at the start of the year as the rally at the end of 2023 peters out on worries they may have been a little too eager to price in a first rate cut by March followed by several more over the next 12 months.
However, a below-forecast reading could light the fuse for a buying spree, they said.
Matt Eagan, at Loomis, Sayles & Co., said the report would likely come "in line with consensus".
"Our expectations are for headline inflation to continue to cyclically bottom well below three percent, possibly to 2.5 percent, and for the Fed to then start cutting rates sometime over the next six months."
New York Fed boss John Williams said rates were well placed to get inflation back to the bank's two percent target but he expected officials would "need to maintain a restrictive stance of policy for some time to fully achieve our goals".
All three main indexes on Wall Street enjoyed an up day Wednesday, boosted by gains in tech titans including Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet, which have had a weak start to 2024.
Asia enjoyed a rare day in the sunshine, with Tokyo leading the way, piling on 1.8 percent to finish above 35,000 for the first time since early 1990 as a weak yen helps exporters.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington, Mumbai, Singapore, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta were also well up.
London, Paris and Frankfurt opened higher.
Bitcoin held at around $46,600, having burst above $47,700 earlier in the day after news that the US Securities and Exchange Commission had given the go-ahead for ETF trading.
The SEC approved the plans for 11 ETFs to list on leading exchanges including the New York Stock Exchange "on an accelerated basis", it said.
Analysts said the unit failed to take off after the news as the decision had largely been priced in over recent weeks.
ETFs are traded on public markets, granting investors exposure to price movements in asset prices without taking direct ownership of the underlying assets.
- Key figures around 0810 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.8 percent at 35,049.86 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.3 percent at 16,302.04 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 2,886.65 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,678.37
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 145.41 yen from 145.77 yen on Wednesday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0978 from $1.0976
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2762 from $1.2742
Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.03 pence from 86.10 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.7 percent at $71.86 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.7 percent at $77.33 per barrel
New York - Dow: UP 0.5 percent at 37,695.73 (close)
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
More Stories From World
-
Real Madrid claim 36th Spanish title after Girona stun Barca
1 minute ago -
Cullen glad Leinster 'got over the line' in Champions Cup semi-final thriller
1 minute ago -
Ben Yedder scores twice as Monaco close in on Champions League return
2 minutes ago -
London mayor Khan wins historic third term as Tories routed in local polls
12 minutes ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 results - collated
7 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
8 hours ago
-
European Champions Cup semi-final result
8 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
8 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Madrid Open results
8 hours ago -
Formula One: Miami Grand Prix sprint race results
8 hours ago -
Barca have 'huge amount' to change next season: coach Xavi
8 hours ago -
Haaland 'back to business' with four-goal haul in Man City rout of Wolves
8 hours ago