London (AFP) – Stock markets and the dollar steadied as investors expected the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates Wednesday to shore up the world’s biggest economy. Traders took a breather from the global rally that lifted several equity indexes to record highs over recent weeks, as they anticipate the Fed decision and post-meeting comments by bank boss Jerome Powell. London edged up, while Paris and Frankfurt stocks dipped around midday.
“The Fed meeting…is one of the most hotly anticipated for the year so far,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB trading group. While a 25-basis-point reduction — the first of 2025 — has been baked into valuations for some time, the main debate has revolved around how many more are in the pipeline and how big they will be. “(Donald) Trump will be central to this meeting,” Brooks said, citing the pressure the US president has put on Powell and the Fed to cut rates.
Expectations for an extended period of easing have grown out of a string of data showing the US labor market is not as healthy as first thought. That comes even as inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed’s two-percent target, though the feared spike in prices caused by Trump’s tariff war has not fully materialised. Economists expect to see divisions among decision-makers as they try to walk the line between tempering inflation and supporting jobs.
In Britain, data showing UK inflation held at 3.8 percent in August reinforced expectations that the Bank of England will maintain its key rate on Thursday and for the remainder of 2025. The Bank of Canada is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday.
Asian stocks traded mixed, after Tuesday’s tepid showing on Wall Street. Hong Kong led gains, climbing more than one percent thanks to a rally across Chinese tech giants such as Alibaba, JD.com, and Tencent. Shanghai advanced while Tokyo closed down. Gold prices hovered around their record above $3,700 an ounce reached Tuesday, as the likelihood of lower US interest rates makes the precious metal more attractive to investors.
The impact of Trump’s tariffs on Japan was revealed Wednesday by data showing the country’s exports to the United States plunged almost 14 percent last month, the biggest drop since 2021. The fall included a collapse of more than 28 percent in auto shipments, dealing a blow to a crucial driver of the world’s fourth-largest economy.
– Key figures at around 1050 GMT –
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 9,214.23 points
Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,799.83
Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 23,315.52
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 44,790.38 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 3,876.34 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 1.8 percent at 26,908.39 (close)
New York – Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 45,757.90 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1843 from $1.1868 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3652 from $1.3657
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 146.24 yen from 146.49 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.75 pence from 86.87 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.0 percent at $63.89 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.9 percent at $67.84 per barrel
© 2024 AFP
