Stock markets mostly declined on Thursday as the strong recovery from the beginning of the year lost momentum. Investors were cautious ahead of the release of key US labor market indicators.
Market sentiment was also affected by geopolitical news, particularly uncertainty surrounding Venezuela and escalating tensions between China and Japan.
A weak start on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones and S&P 500 fell from their record highs, led to a decline in Asian markets. Traders awaited the release of US jobs data later in the day. Attention is also focused on the US jobs report due on Friday, a key indicator for the Federal Reserve, which is expected to decide on its interest rate policy later this month.
Market analysts emphasized that this jobs report could significantly influence investor expectations. A better-than-expected result could delay interest rate cuts, while disappointing figures could reignite recession fears.
In Asia, major stock markets closed lower. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Jakarta all posted losses. Sydney and Manila closed higher, while Wellington remained unchanged.
European markets opened mixed: London and Paris declined slightly, while Frankfurt held steady. In South Korea, the Seoul stock exchange rose to a new record high despite falling Samsung Electronics shares. This occurred despite the company’s forecast of record profits in the fourth quarter.
Japanese stocks came under pressure after China announced an anti-dumping investigation into imports of a key Japanese chemical used in semiconductor manufacturing. This move followed China’s decision the previous day to restrict its exports to Japan, further escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Oil prices rebounded after sharp losses in the previous session. This was prompted by reports that Venezuela would supply millions of barrels of crude oil to the US following the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro.
Investors are closely watching developments in the US, where the Supreme Court will rule on the legality of the massive tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump. This decision could have repercussions for global trade and markets.
This morning, most major global indices and currencies were trading lower, while crude oil prices rose slightly.
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