Digest · Local Post
Global shares were mostly lower in cautious trading Wednesday as investors monitored interest rate decisions and geopolitical tensions pushed Brent crude oil prices above US$100 per barrel. Increased fighting in the Middle East is constricting global oil supplies, raising concerns over inflation. As of 0930 GMT, Brent crude was up 2.5% at $100.39 a barrel, while U.S. crude benchmark rose 1.9% to $94.85.
European indices like France’s CAC 40, Germany’s DAX, and Britain’s FTSE 100 declined, though the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average showed minimal change. In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.2%, South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped 0.2%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and India’s Sensex also declined.
A key U.S. inflation report on Friday will reveal August price increases, with economists predicting a slight easing to 3.3% from July’s 3.4%, still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The Fed’s next meeting will decide whether to cut, raise, or hold interest rates, with President Donald Trump advocating for lower rates. Meanwhile, Japan’s central bank is expected to raise its benchmark rate, while U.S.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Japanese monetary policies favoring a weak yen. Currency markets saw the U.S. dollar weaken against the yen, while the euro remained stable.
Source: BNN Bloomberg
