Global Markets Report - 22 August
ASX set to open higher, after US stocks rose on positive signs from the Fed.
Australia
Australian shares are set to open higher, after US stocks rose on positive signs from the Fed.
ASX futures were up 0.35% or 28 points as of 8:00am on Thursday, suggesting a higher open.
Stocks edged higher after minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting reinforced expectations that the central bank would likely cut interest rates in September.
The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, a day after snapping an eight-session winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained about 0.1% and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.6%.
In commodity markets, Brent crude oil was down 1.4% to US$76.14 a barrel, while gold was down 0.1% at US$2,512.56.
The Australian dollar was at 67.40 US cents, down from its previous close of 67.46.
Asia
Chinese shares closed lower. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4% to 2,856.58, and the Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.3% to 1,521.41.
Hong Kong shares ended lower. The benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 0.7% to 17,391.01.
Japanese shares closed lower. The Nikkei Stock Average fell 0.3% to 37,951.80.
India shares ended higher. The BSE SENSEX rose 0.1% to 80,905.30.
Europe
Stocks in the U.K. finished higher. The FTSE 100 Index added 0.1% to 8,283.43.
In Europe, shares closed higher. Germany's DAX added 0.5% to 18,448.95, and France's CAC 40 rose 0.5% to 7,524.72.
North America
U.S. stocks ended higher. The DJIA rose 0.1% to 40,890.49, the S&P 500 added 0.4% to 5,620.85, and the Nasdaq gained 0.6% to 17,918.99.
Among S&P 500 companies, the top three gainers were Keysight Technologies Inc, surging 13.88%, Target Corp jumped 11.20%, and TJX Companies Inc lifted 6.11%.
The biggest decliners were Franklin Resources Inc which dropped 12.56%, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc fell 3.17%, and American Express Co lost 2.68%.