Nikkei

Asia stocks rally on renewed global rate cut optimism

Asian stocks rose on Friday, on course for a third week of gains, while the dollar was steady as fresh signs of an easing U.S. labour market stoked optimism around interest rate cuts this year ahead of next week's crucial inflation data. Sterling was steady at $1.2515, having touched a more than two-week low of $1.2446 on Thursday after Bank of England (BoE) paved the way for the start of rate cuts as soon as next month. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.66% a...

April 18, 2024 1:34 PM

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks bounce as soaring dollar pauses

Asian stocks made their biggest gains in a month on Thursday, while the dollar took a breather and bond markets steadied as investors stepped back to assess the interest rate outlook. Oil found support following its sharpest fall in two-and-a-half months on demand worries and the lack, so far, of an obvious Israeli or U.S. response to Iran's weekend attack on Israel. Analysts do not expect dramatic new sanctions on oil from Iran, which comprises about 3% of global output. MSCI's broadest inde...