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Asian stocks skyrocket; yen unpredictable as BOJ hikes rates

Asian stocks rose on Wednesday and the yen was unpredictable after the Bank of Japan raised rates of interest, while financiers examined contrasting results from tech bellwether Microsoft and chipmaker AMD that suggested a divide in the AI landscape.

Oil prices increased from seven-week short on escalating tension in the Middle East after the Palestinian militant group Hamas stated its leader Ismail Haniyeh was eliminated in Iran's capital of Tehran.

The BOJ likewise laid out a detailed plan for quantitative tightening up to pare month-to-month bond purchasing in phases, to about 3 trillion yen ($ 19.6 billion) by January-March 2026, as it raised its over night call rate target to 0.25% from zero to 0.1%.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei was down 0.19% in choppy trading, while the yields on Japanese federal government bonds inched lower after the decision.

The yen was unpredictable, swinging in between gains and losses. It was last flat at 152.81 a dollar, however still on course for a gain of more than 5% in July.

The yen began the month rooted near 38-year lows of 161.96, weighed down by the large space in between interest rates in Japan and other industrialized countries.

But factors such as most likely official intervention, a sell-off in equities and a reassessment of popular carry trades assisted the currrency rebound to a 12-week high last week.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.9% greater, with Chinese shares soaring on Wednesday. Blue-chip stocks were up about 2%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was also 2% higher.

Information revealed China's manufacturing activity diminished for a. 3rd month in July, keeping alive expectations that Beijing. will need to introduce more stimulus as a lengthy property. crisis and task insecurity hold back development.

Central banks dominate investor attention on Wednesday, with. a Federal Reserve choice due later on in the day, with markets. expecting the U.S. reserve bank to stand pat on rates however. show rate cuts are on the method.

Investors are tense about the AI craze and tech. assessments as results from tech bellwethers enhanced the concept. that the benefit in substantial AI investments may take longer than. first thought.

Disappointing earnings from Microsoft sent its. shares lower, along with those of other tech companies, while strong. profits from Advanced Micro Devices spurred a rally in. chip stocks. Nasdaq futures rebounded, and were last up. 0.7%.

FED WAITED FOR

While the Fed is widely expected to hold rates of interest, the. spotlight is directly on whether it opens the door to a. September cut.

Markets are fully pricing in a cut of 25 basis points in. September, with approximately 68 bps of easing priced in for the year.

The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency. versus 6 competitors, was at 104.41 and is down 1.36% for July.

Nevertheless, some experts expect the Fed to remain careful as. the labour market is still tight.

The Australian dollar sank to a three-month low,. while stocks soared more than 1% as a soft inflation. report squashed lingering speculation that rate of interest would. have to increase once again.

In products, U.S. crude was 1.65% greater at $75.98. per barrel and Brent was at $79.8 per barrel, up 1.49%. on the day.

(source: Reuters)