European shares edge lower ahead of Christmas holiday break
By Ritu, Capital Sands European shares dipped slightly on Monday after nearing a record high in the previous session, as trading thinned ahead of the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays later in the week. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.1% at 0814 GMT, with the banking sector leading declines. An improving outlook […]
Battle lines harden over Trump impeachment trial witnesses
By Ritu, Capital Sands The White House on Sunday signaled comfort with plans by Senate Republicans to avoid new witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, while a top Democrat seized on a newly released email on the withholding of U.S. aid to Ukraine to press his case for testimony. The Democratic-led House of […]
European stocks grind higher in pre-holiday trading
By Ritu, Capital Sands European shares edged higher on Thursday, with a pre-holiday lull making for a quiet trading session aside from a handful of corporate updates. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.2% by 0821 GMT, with media, healthcare and utilities sectors leading gains. All eyes will turn to the Bank of England’s monetary policy […]
Stocks Fluctuate Treasuries Edge Up; Pound Slips: Markets Wrap
By Ritu, Capital Sands European stocks edged higher on Wednesday while U.S. equity futures fluctuated and Asian shares were mixed. Bonds also nudged upward while the pound extended its decline. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index traded slightly higher as most national benchmarks in the region were in the green. Luxury TV and stereo maker Bang […]
Japan to trim annual government bond issuance next fiscal year – sources
By Ritu, Capital Sands Japan plans to trim government bond issuance by 0.5% next fiscal year from current year’s levels, government officials said on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walks a fine line between supporting an economy and reining in huge public debt. The drop would mark the seventh straight year of declines […]
Trump ratings highest ever over economics despite impeachment proceedings
By Ritu, Capital Sands Strong economic figures have helped US President Donald Trump to his highest approval ratings ever, despite impeachment, a new poll found Monday. Although the Quinnipiac University survey said Trump has a high of 43 per cent for his job approval, that is still far below nearly all previous presidents in modern times […]
Oil hovers near three-month high on trade optimism, supply cuts
By Ritu, Capital Sands Oil prices trickled a fraction lower on Tuesday but remained near a three-month high as investors kept the faith with hopes that a fully fledged U.S.-China trade deal is in the pipeline and set to stoke oil demand in the world’s biggest economies. Brent crude oil futures had slipped by three […]
Pound Gains on Brexit Optimism as Focus Shifts to Trade Talks
By Ritu, Capital Sands Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here. The pound rallied for a second day amid optimism a speedy resolution to the Brexit deadlock is in store after the Conservative Party’s election victory. Sterling advanced against all its major peers after Chief Secretary […]
Asian Markets Mixed as Lighthizer Says No Date is Set for Phase Two Talks
By Ritu, Capital Sands Asian markets were mixed on Monday morning in Asia as U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizersaid the phase one Sino-U.S. trade deal is “totally done,” but no date is set for the next phase two talks. China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.1% by 11:35 PM ET, while the Shenzhen Component gained 0.6%. Hong Kong’s […]
Brexit relief for UK economy might not last long
By Ritu, Capital Sands Britain’s economy will cast off some of the Brexit uncertainty that has held it back since 2016 after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s election triumph, but the risk remains of another “cliff-edge” showdown with Brussels in a year’s time. With Britain’s exit from the European Union on Jan. 31 now a […]