Global markets update: US stocks little changed ahead of jobs data, European equities gain

MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe was down 0.17%.

Recently, global markets were hit due to hawkish comments from central banks and strong US economic data bolstering bets that interest rates will stay elevated for a longer period.

US stocks

On Wall Street, stock indices were little changed in afternoon trading on Thursday.

The S&P 500 lost 4.83 points, or 0.11%, at 4,258.92. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.17 points at 33,129.72. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 16.68 points, or 0.13%, at 13,219.33.

US treasury yields eased from 16-year highs on Thursday, ahead of the much anticipated US monthly non-farm payrolls report on Friday.

Currencies

The US dollar fell at 148.40 Japanese yen from 149.05. The euro rose at $1.0551 from $1.0504.

Europe

European shares ended higher on Thursday after a three-day fall.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index inched up 0.3% after closing at a six-month low on Wednesday.

Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.5% at 7,451.54. Germany’s DAX fell 0.2% at 15,070.22. France’s CAC 40 was flat at 6,998.25.

Euro zone bond yields also broadly dropped.

Asia 

Asian stock markets rose on Thursday. 

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.1% at 17,213.87. China’s Shanghai Composite was closed for a holiday.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 1.8% at 31,075.36.

South Korean benchmark Kospi closed down 2.09 points, or 0.09%, at 2,403.60.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.5% at 6890.2. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index added 0.66% to end at 11235.05. 

Energy prices

The US crude oil benchmark for November delivery lost $1.91 at $82.31 a barrel on Thursday. Brent crude for December delivery fell $1.74 at $84.07 a barrel.

Natural gas for November delivery added 21 cents at $3.17 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Bullion

Gold for December delivery dropped $3 at $1,831.80 an ounce. Silver for December delivery fell 13 cents at $21.02 an ounce.

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Updated: 06 Oct 2023, 01:14 AM IST