Today's News Update - 23rd Dec 2024 Asia Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell on Friday as investors digested Japan's inflation data and China's interest rate decision. The People’s Bank of China kept its loan prime rates steady, with the one-year rate at 3.1% and the five-year rate at 3.6%. In Japan, core inflation for November rose to 2.7%, slightly above expectations, while headline inflation climbed to 2.9%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.29%, and the Topix fell 0.44%. Mainland China’s CSI 300 slid 0.45%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was flat. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.24%, its lowest close since September. US The Dow Jones Industrial Average rebounded on Friday, closing out a challenging week that included a 1,100-point plunge in a single day and its longest losing streak since the 1970s. The recovery was bolstered by cooler-than-expected inflation data. The 30-stock Dow gained 498.02 points, or 1.18%, finishing at 42,840.26. The S&P 500 rose 1.09% to close at 5,930.85, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.03%, ending the day at 19,572.60. Commodity Gold prices continued to rise on Friday, boosted by a weaker dollar and falling Treasury yields following U.S. economic data showing a slowdown in inflation. Spot gold gained 1.1%, reaching $2,623.36 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures rose 1.4%, settling at $2,643.20. Oil prices were little changed on Friday as markets balanced concerns over Chinese demand with expectations of interest rate cuts after the U.S. inflation data. Brent crude futures increased by 6 cents, or 0.08%, to $72.94 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 8 cents, or 0.12%, to $69.46 per barrel. The above analysis is only for the views of market researchers and is for reference only and is not Regarded as a specific investment suggestion. #Forex #trading #tradingforex