Canada stocks-Toronto market hit six week low
Canada’s main stock index fell on Wednesday to its lowest closing level in six weeks, tracking declines on Wall Street and weighed by losses for resource shares as commodity prices fell. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended down 59.31 points, or 0.3 percent, at 20,193.33, its fourth straight day of declines and its lowest closing level since Jan. 11. Wall Street also closed lower, with traders cautious despite the latest guidance on rate policy from the U.S. central bank showing few surprises.
Sensex, Nifty rise in early trade
Benchmark stock market indices opened higher on Friday after falling for five consecutive trading sessions. The S&P BSE Sensex opened 199.56 points higher at 59,805.36, while the NSE Nifty 50 climbed over 50 points. Broader markets also reflected sentiments as all the small and midcap indices rose, with volatility dipping sharply. The rebound in domestic stocks seems to be a result of improvement in US equities that rebounded as economic pressure on the world’s largest economy seems to have moderated, despite the possibility of aggressive interest rate hikes in future. All the sectoral indices were trading in the positive zone, except Nifty Metal, Nifty Media and Nifty Auto.
Asian stocks sink
Most Asian stock markets sank on Friday as uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy triggered sharp losses in technology stocks, while Japan’s Nikkei index rallied as the incoming head of the Bank of Japan vowed to maintain ultra-loose policy. The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.1 percent after economist Kazuo Ueda, who is set to take over as the BOJ governor in April, said that he largely intends to hold interest rates at ultra-low levels in the near-term. Most other Asian stocks fell on Friday, with technology-heavy bourses retreating the most. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slumped 1.4 percent, driven by an over 4 percent loss in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. While Alibaba logged stronger-than-expected quarterly revenue, growth was still at its worst level since 2013, as it grapples with a slowdown in its key Chinese market. Losses in Alibaba also rattled other regional tech majors, with South Korea’s KOSPI losing 0.6 percent, while the Taiwan Weighted index fell 0.4 percent.
CAC 40 up 0.25pc
France stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Consumer Services, Consumer Goods and Industrials sectors led shares higher. At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 rose 0.25 percent, while the SBF 120 index gained 0.27 percent. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 301 to 234 and 89 ended unchanged. Shares in Sopra Steria Group SA rose to 52-week highs; up 7.66 percent or 12.40 to 174.20. The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was unchanged 0.00 percent to 18.96 a new 52-week high. Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.71 percent or 13.15 to $1,828.35 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April rose 2.06 percent or 1.52 to hit $75.47 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract rose 1.95 percent or 1.57 to trade at $82.17 a barrel.
Germany stocks mixed at close of trade
Germany stocks were mixed after the close on Tuesday, as gains in the Food & Beverages, Software and Transportation & Logistics sectors led shares higher while losses in the Construction, Media and Technology sectors led shares lower. At the close in Frankfurt, the DAX rose 0.01 percent, while the MDAX index lost 0.19 percent, and the TecDAX index declined 0.22 percent. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by 361 to 322 and 76 ended unchanged. Shares in Commerzbank AG O.N. rose to 3-years highs; rising 2.50 percent or 0.26 to 10.47. The DAX volatility index, which measures the implied volatility of DAX options, was down 0.11 percent to 18.57. Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.38 percent or 7.40 to $1,930.30 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March rose 1.35 percent or 1.05 to hit $78.95 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract rose 1.15 percent or 0.97 to trade at $85.47 a barrel.
U.S. stocks rebound after dayslong S&P 500 selloff
U.S. stocks rebounded from early losses Thursday, snapping a dayslong selloff in the S&P 500 that was driven by concerns about the trajectory of interest rates. The S&P 500 climbed 21.27 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4012.32, breaking its longest losing streak this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 108.82 points, or 0.3 percent, to 33153.91 after initial declines. The Nasdaq Composite gained 83.33 points, or 0.7 percent, to 11590.40. Nvidia, one of the index’s biggest constituents, surged $29.10, or 14 percent, to $236.64. The semiconductor company said late Wednesday that it is expecting an AI-driven boom and a recovery in its videogame business. The gains follow a wave of selling pressure that sent the S&P 500 lower the previous four trading days.
Dow jones industrial average futures falls 25 points
U.S. stock futures were flat Friday morning after the S&P 500 snapped a four-day losing streak. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell by 25 points, or 0.08 percent. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.06 percent and 0.18 percent, respectively. Boeing shares slipped more than 2 percent in extended trading after the company temporarily halted delivery of its 787 Dreamliners over a fuselage issue. During Thursday’s session, the S&P 500 advanced 0.53 percent. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 108.82 points, or 0.33 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.72 percent.