Stock markets mostly rose Thursday and the dollar largely weakened after
minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting suggested it could
slow the pace of its rate hikes.
اضافة اعلان
The news provided traders with a cushion against concerns about surging
Covid-19 cases in China that have fanned speculation authorities will revert to
lockdowns and other economically debilitating measures to fight the outbreak.
Oil prices rallied slightly later Thursday after earlier extending sharp
losses from the previous day fuelled by worries about the impact on demand from
China's Covid outbreaks.
Wednesday's much-anticipated minutes showed most US central bank chiefs felt
smaller increases would "likely soon be appropriate" as the economy
shows signs of weakness following almost a year of monetary tightening.
"Equities are revelling in the wake of the... minutes after the Fed
telegraphed a downshift from jumbo to extra-large rate hikes," said SPI
Asset Management's Stephen Innes.
"A commitment to moving toward restrictive monetary policy remains
intact, but the (policy board) is ready to slow the path toward that
destination."
He added that a less aggressive Fed "should pave the runway for
take-off in Asia, fuelled by expectations of China's reopening by March next
year".
Bets were growing on officials announcing a 50-basis-point lift at their
December gathering, down from four straight 75-point hikes.
The latest indicators showed the manufacturing and services sectors
continued to contract last month, while jobless claims picked up.
The developments allowed Wall Street traders to head off to their
Thanksgiving break with a spring in their step, the S&P 500 ending at a
two-month high as they finally see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel
after a painful year.
Asia and Europe mostly followed suit.
Kuala Lumpur surged more than three percent and the ringgit held gains after
opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was named prime minister, ending a days-long
leadership impasse after inconclusive polls that had rattled Malaysia's
markets.
The more risk-on environment was also reflected in a further drop in the
dollar against its peers, having surged for much of the year as traders bet on
ever-higher US interest rates.
Investors were keeping a close watch also on China after it announced a
record number of new Covid cases, as authorities worked to curb the spread with
snap lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions.
While officials are trying more targeted measures to contain the disease,
concerns remain that they will resort to the painful city-wide shutdowns seen
in Shanghai earlier this year as part of the zero-Covid strategy, which
hammered the economy.
However, that worry has been tempered somewhat after China signalled fresh
support measures aimed at boosting growth, with the State Council saying tools
would be used to ensure liquidity in markets.
The comments led to talk of another cut in the amount of cash that banks
must keep in reserve, freeing them to lend more.
- Key figures
around 1630 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 7,466.60 points (close)
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 6,707.32 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.8 percent at 14,539.56 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.4 percent at 3,961.99
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.0 percent at 28,383.09 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 17,660.90 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 3,089.31 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 34,194.06 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.411 from $1.0401 on Wednesday
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 138.39 yen from 139.52 yen
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2131 from $1.2064
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.82 pence from 86.18 pence
West Texas Intermediate: FLAT at $77.91 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $85.10 per barrel
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