London (AFP) – Stock markets mostly fell and oil prices climbed on Thursday as inflation fears, driven by a lack of progress in ending the Middle East war, drove a further sell-off in global bonds. Investors were also on edge ahead of a high-stakes summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House.
The benchmark US 10-year Treasury yield rose to its highest level since 2007, while the 30-year yield reached its highest since 2004. Japan’s 10-year yield jumped to a 30-year high during Asia trading hours. “Bond yields are blowing out again partly because the US economy is booming,” said Neil Wilson, investor strategist at Saxo UK. Strong US business activity data on Wednesday “played into the narrative of resilient growth, which in turn would enable the Fed to keep hiking rates to deal with inflation,” said Deutsche Bank’s Jim Reid. A rebound in oil prices also added to inflation fears.
Frankfurt and Paris stock markets fell while London edged higher. Oil prices were up more than one percent, with international benchmark Brent remaining above $100 a barrel, as uncertainty swirled around the seven-month Middle East conflict. The gains came a day after world leaders at the UN General Assembly offered little to suggest progress in ending the turmoil in the Middle East. Hopes for a deal to get Gulf oil and gas flowing freely through the Strait of Hormuz as global leaders gathered in New York had sent oil prices down in recent sessions.
Trump and Xi will meet in the White House Thursday, where thorny discussion topics are expected to include trade, technological competition — particularly in AI — and Beijing’s diplomatic and economic support for Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Wednesday that the rival superpowers had agreed to extend a trade truce by two months. “This extension was shorter than had been floated by US officials beforehand, but does offer more time to potentially reach a longer deal,” Reid said.
Shanghai shed more than one percent while Hong Kong closed down 0.3 percent. Japan’s Nikkei finished up 0.8 percent on its first day back from a three-day break. In company news, India’s largest stock exchange operator, the National Stock Exchange, recorded a subdued trading debut, opening around one percent higher than its issue price after raising $2.35 billion in the country’s second-biggest initial public offering. The NSE, which handles the vast majority of domestic equities trading, had been one of India’s most anticipated listings this year and came after a decade-long wait to go public.
– Key figures at around 1115 GMT –
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.4 percent at $104.87 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.3 percent at $93.31 per barrel
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.1 at 10,712.90 points
Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 8,103.73
Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 0.3 percent at 25,344.10
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.3 percent at 24,761.13 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.2 percent at 3,888.37 (close)
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.8 percent at 65,513.99 (close)
Dollar/yen: UP at 158.75 from 158.29 on Wednesday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1375 from $1.1385
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3226 from $1.3242
Euro/pound: FLAT at 85.97 pence
© 2024 AFP
