03/03/2023
Today’s Announcements & News
Asia
Asia-Pacific markets were likely to gain on Friday, following overnight gains on Wall Street, as investor concerns over rising U.S. interest rates persisted.
Japanese markets expected to open higher with Chicago’s Nikkei futures at 27,710 and Osaka at 27,700 against the Nikkei 225
It last settled at 27,498.87.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200
Opened 0.24%.
The region is due to release key economic data, with Japan’s unemployment rate set to hit 2.4% in January, the lowest since February 2020.
The country will also see au Jibun Bank’s services PMI for February.
China is to publish Caixin services PMI data for February, while India is to release a survey of private factory activity for February on Friday.
United States
U.S. stock futures edged lower Thursday evening as investors pondered the Fed’s path of rate hikes amid fresh comments from a central bank spokesman.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 37 points, or 0.11%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.15% and 0.21%, respectively.
The major averages are headed for a positive week. The S&P 500 rose 0.28% and the Nasdaq rose 0.60%. The Dow rose 0.57% for the week.
Commodities
Gold prices fell on Thursday as weekly U.S. employment data pointed to a tight labor market, which could keep the Fed on a tightening cycle, supporting the dollar and Treasury yields.
Spot gold was down 0.02% at $1,836.39 an ounce as of 3:23 p.m. ET, after rising in the previous three sessions. U.S. gold futures fell 0.15 percent to $1,842.7.
Earlier data showed that the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell again last week.
A stronger dollar and higher yields weighed on gold amid a tight labor market, said Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures in Chicago.
The dollar index rose 0.48%, making gold more expensive for holders of other currency buyers.
The above analysis is only for the views of market researchers and is for reference only and is not regarded as a specific investment suggestion.