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European shares lower on earnings, bonds boosted after Fed, BoE

Significant European equity markets were lower on Thursday after a raft of business revenues in the U.S. and Europe, while a rate cut in the UK and prospects of upcoming policy reducing in the United States increased worldwide bonds.

The Federal Reserve held rates of interest steady on Wednesday but opened the door to a cut in September. The Bank of England took a march on the Fed on Thursday by decreasing borrowing costs by a quarter-point in a narrow 5-4 vote.

Major European markets were primarily lower with the pan-European STOXX 600 down 0.3%, and Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 both nursing losses of over 0.9%.

The reality that some heavyweights are cutting assistance does not bode well going forward and might well explain why European markets are underperforming, said Stephane Ekolo, equity strategist at TFS Derivatives.

Disappointing set of results, slowing development for industrials, Chinese customers no longer there to rescue demand and a possible renewal of inflation. You have a not so pleasant cocktail.

Britain's FTSE 100 bucked the trend, benefitting from a weaker pound after the BoE's rate cut. The more domestic-orientated FTSE 250 increased 0.7% to its highest given that Feb. 2022.

If you look at the headlines that Bailey produced: care on cutting too quickly or by too much, it implies to me that they're looking at a consistent quarterly pace of decreases, stated Colin Asher, financial expert at Mizuho.

I would say that makes a cut in the next conference in September unlikely. The start of lower interest rates is underway, but reasonably gradually.

Nasdaq futures got 0.6% as shares of Facebook-parent Meta Platforms rose 7% pre-market on strong earnings. The index rose 3% on Wednesday, while the S&P 500 climbed up 1.6%.

U.S. tech stocks have made an extraordinary resurgence after the recent sell-off. AI beloved Nvidia rallied 13% on Wednesday, adding about $330 billion in stock market worth.

Tech giants Apple and Amazon.com will report their earnings later Thursday.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.5%, after ending July mostly flat. A. regional MSCI IT index leapt 1.7% and Taiwan's. shares surged 2%.

Japan's Nikkei, nevertheless, tumbled 2.5% as a sharp. jump in the yen clouded the outlook for exporters.

The Japanese yen rallied to as much as 148.51 per. dollar its strongest level since March 15, a day after the Bank. of Japan raised interest rates for the 2nd time in 17 years. and signified more tightening to come.

It was last down 0.3% at 150.35.

FED SIGNALS SEPTEMBER CUT

Eyes stayed on the U.S. monetary policy outlook after Fed. Chair Jerome Powell stated policymakers had a genuine conversation. about cutting at the July meeting.

The central bank also stated the risks to employment were now. on a par with those of increasing prices.

As an outcome, markets - which have already bet on a September. cut - are betting on a 10% chance that the Fed may go for a 50. basis points reducing in September. For all of 2024, they have. priced in a total easing of 72 basis points.

The statement was noteworthy because they removed the. tightening predisposition and changed it with a more neutral predisposition, said. Jan von Gerich, chief expert at Nordea.

It's early but the reality we haven't truly seen the rally. continue recommends that markets might be trying to capture some. breath before tomorrow's payrolls report.

Treasuries extended their gains from Wednesday with the. yield on 10-year Treasuries down 5 basis points to. 4.0564%, having dropped as much as 11 bps the day before to the. least expensive because March, before ending lower by 3.5 bps. Yields move. inversely to rates.

After falling 0.4% on Wednesday, the dollar index. rebounded 0.3%, with the euro down 0.4%. Sterling. dropped 0.6% after the BoE's rate cut.

In product markets, oil costs extended their surge after. the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran raised the threat of a. broader Middle East conflict.

Brent unrefined futures increased 0.9% to $81.53 per barrel,. while U.S. West Texas Intermediate unrefined futures. increased 0.9% to $78.62 per barrel.

Brent leapt about 2.3%, while U.S. crude increased over 4% in. the previous session.

Gold was down 0.5% at $2,436 an ounce.

(source: Reuters)