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Japan +1.24%. The Reuters Tankan sentiment index for manufacturers in Japan fell to +3 in July 2023 from +8 in June, declining for the first time in six months amid growing exporter concern about slowing external demand.
China -0.08%. Stocks are struggling for direction as investors await more cues from Beijing on potential stimulus measures. Chinese authorities pledged on Tuesday that they would roll out policies to “restore and expand” consumption in the world’s second-largest economy as consumers’ purchasing power remained weak.
Hong Kong -0.49%.
Australia +0.55%.
India -0.01%.
The annual inflation rate in New Zealand was at 6% in Q2 of 2023, down from 6.7% in Q1 and an over 3-decade peak of 7.2% in Q4 of 2022, but stays beyond the RBNZ’s goal of between 1 and 3%.
In the U.S. on Tuesday, all three major indexes ended solidly higher as upbeat corporate earnings results and growing expectations for a soft landing scenario in the US lifted sentiment. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 0.76% to close at 14,353.64 points, while the benchmark S&P 500 added 0.71% to settle at 4,555.10 points. The Dow gained ground by 1.06% to finish at 34,951.73 points.
Coming up in the session: Eurozone June final CPI figures at 9:00 GMT.
Global oil prices rose on Wednesday on China’s economic support pledge and tighter supply. Brent futures rose 9 cents, or 0.1%, to $79.72 a barrel at 0010 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was steady at $75.75 per barrel.
Currencies: (JPY:USD), (CNY:USD), (AUD:USD), (INR:USD), (HKD:USD), (NZD:USD).
U.S. stock futures held steady on Wednesday after the major averages notched gains during Tuesday’s regular session: Dow +0.08%; S&P 500 +0.03%; Nasdaq +0.04%.
