From Yahoo Finance: 2024-04-01 02:45:58

European and US equity futures rose as US inflation figures suggest Federal Reserve interest rate cuts may still occur this year. Mainland China and South Korean benchmarks gained, while Japan saw a slight decrease in confidence among large manufacturers. Gold hit record prices, driven by geopolitical tensions and strong Chinese demand. China’s CSI 300 Index climbed 1.8% as manufacturing activity rebounded, offering hope for economic recovery. Global equities have risen over 18% in the past two quarters due to bets on interest-rate cuts and AI stocks. Treasury yields fell slightly after Fed Chair Powell’s remarks on inflation aligned with expectations. In Asia, the yen remains close to a three-decade low against the dollar. Auto stocks in Japan took a hit following weak industry confidence data. Iron ore prices dropped due to China’s property crisis. Bitcoin’s price fell after reaching above $71,000 earlier. Key events this week include various global manufacturing PMI releases and US economic data. Stocks futures rose, currencies remained stable, and commodities prices saw some fluctuations.



Read more at Yahoo Finance: Stock Futures Rise on Fed-Cut Bets, Gold Rallies: Markets Wrap