Latest News

Asian shares end the week with a whimper, yen struggles

Asian shares are ending the week with a whimper after a rally to 26month highs earlier this week drew profittaking, while the strength in the U.S. dollar as central banks in Europe cut rates kept pushing the yen towards the intervention zone.

Overnight, the Swiss National Bank cut rates for a second time while the Bank of England unlocked to a relieving in August after holding rates steady. Sterling, the Swiss franc and the euro fell, lifting the dollar broadly.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.6% on Friday, dragged lower by a. pull-back in technology shares, tracking a blended session on Wall. Street overnight.

The index is set for a weekly gain of 1% after rising to its. highest considering that April 2022 on Wednesday as a current run of soft. U.S. information strengthened bets of two rate cuts from the Federal. Reserve later this year.

Japan's Nikkei increased 0.1% and the yen relieved. another 0.1% to trade at 159.01, its softest considering that late April. when the Japanese authorities intervened in the market to stem. the currency's quick decreases.

Information showed previously in the day that Japan's demand-led. inflation slowed in May, making complex the outlook for interest. rate hikes.

We're seeing increasingly more of these central banks either. open the door or continue cutting rates which's a really great. thing, particularly as we're starting to see some softer information. regularly come out of the U.S., said Tony Sycamore, analyst. at IG.

But in the short term, I think we need to look for more of. these end of month, end of quarter flows. In the medium term, I. believe the marketplace will continue to back those tech and AI. winners.

Chinese stocks were mainly flat, with the Shanghai Composite. index having a hard time to remain above an important level of 3,000. points. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index tumbled 0.9%.

In foreign exchange markets, the euro nursed. losses at $1.0705, having actually fallen 0.4% overnight as European rate. cuts collected pace, while sterling was flat at $1.2658,. the most affordable in 5 months.

The dollar also held gains against the Swiss franc at. 0.8916 francs, having leapt 0.8% over night.

In contrast, a still hawkish rate outlook for Australia's. central bank has actually sent out the regional dollar flying to a 17-year high. on the low-yielding yen at 105.85 yen.

Treasuries are set to end the week on the back foot. Two-year yields edged up 2 basis points (bps) on. Friday to 4.745% and were up 6 bps for the week, while the. 10-year yield likewise increased 1 bps to 4.2672%, bringing. the weekly boost to 5 bps.

Oil prices combined on Friday after hitting seven-week. highs earlier in the week. Brent futures slipped 0.1% to. $ 85.59 a barrel while U.S. crude also dipped 0.1% to. $ 81.19 a barrel.

Gold rates were flat at $2,358.83 per ounce.

(source: Reuters)