World Markets
22 April 2021
World Markets at a glance for Currency, Equity, Commodity, Bonds, Crypto Currency, Financial News & Major Economic Events.
Dollar stalls as yield gains slow, focus shifts to ECB
Asia joins global equity rebound; oil weak on COVID-19 worries
Oil falls 3rd day on U.S. stock build, surging COVID-19 cases
Currency
The dollar was pinned near multi-week lows against most major currencies on Thursday as fading gains in U.S. Treasury yields reduced the greenback’s interest rate advantage.
The euro was in focus ahead of a European Central Bank (ECB)meeting later on Thursday, where any positive comments about the economic outlook or hints of tapering bond purchases are expected to send the common currency racing higher.
The dollar stood at 108.04 yen, close to a seven-week low. The euro was quoted at $1.2037, not far from its strongest since March 3. The British pound bought $1.3931
Equity
Asian stocks rose on Thursday, extending a rebound in global markets following a sharp selloff earlier this week, while oil prices eased again on worries about rising COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world.
Japan led gains, with the Nikkei 225 rallying 1.7%, after sliding 2% in each of the last two sessions.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.4%, following a 0.9% decline the previous day. Chinese blue chips rose 0.3%.
Oil
Oil prices fell for a third day on Thursday as a surprise build in U.S. crude inventories and a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in India and Japan raised concerns that a recovery in global economy and fuel demand may slow.
Brent crude futures fell 57 cents, or 0.9%, to $64.75 a barrel by 0157 GMT, following a drop of $1.25 on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 58 cents, or 1.0%, at $60.77 a barrel, after losing $1.32 on Wednesday.
Economic Events
