Global Markets Mixed as Investors React to Fed Policy,Economic Concerns
World markets presented a mixed picture on Friday,November 7,as investors continued to assess the implications of the Federal Reserve’s ongoing tight monetary policy and mounting anxieties surrounding the U.S. economic outlook. Currency movements were subtle, while equity performance varied significantly across major exchanges, reflecting regional economic sensitivities and investor risk appetite.
The interplay between restrictive monetary policy aimed at curbing inflation and the potential for economic slowdown remains a central concern for global investors. These factors are influencing asset allocation decisions and contributing to volatility across markets, impacting businesses, consumers, and financial institutions worldwide. Further economic data releases and central bank communications will be crucial in shaping market direction in the coming weeks.
The dollar index, measuring the greenback’s strength against six major currencies, edged down 0.13% to close at 99.605. In the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 74.80 points, or +0.16%, finishing the day at 46,987.10. The S&P 500 also rose, adding 8.48 points (+0.13%) to reach 6,728.80, while the NASDAQ Composite declined 49.45 points (-0.21%) to 23,004.54.
European markets largely finished lower. The French CAC-40 decreased 14.59 points (-0.18%) to 7,950.18, and the German DAX fell 164.06 points (-0.69%) to 23,569.96. The FTSE 100 in London also saw a decline, dropping 53.21 points (-0.55%) to 9,682.57.
Asian markets experienced broad-based weakness. The Nikkei 225 in Japan suffered the largest loss, falling 607.31 points (-1.19%) to 50,276.37. South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 72.69 points (-1.81%) to 3,953.76, and taiwan’s TAIEX lost 248.04 points (-0.89%) to 27,651.41. The SSE Composite Index in China decreased 10.20 points (-0.25%) to 3,997.56, while the HSI Hong Kong index declined 244.07 points (-0.92%) to 26,241.83. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and ALL ORDINARIES indices both closed down, falling 58.60 points (-0.66%) to 8,769.70 and 66.90 points (-0.74%) to 9,031.70, respectively.
Bucking the downward trend, the Indian SENSEX edged down slightly, losing 94.73 points (-0.11%) to 83,216.28. Southeast Asian markets showed a mixed performance, with Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index rising 57.53 points (+0.69%) to 8,394.59, Malaysia’s FBMKLCI gaining 0.19 points (+0.01%) to 1,619.13, and Singapore’s FTSE STI adding 7.25 points (+0.16%) to 4,492.24. The Philippines’ PSE Composite Index fell 76.22 points (-1.31%) to 5,759.37.
By Rattana Phongtawich.
