Trading in global markets is mixed and muted ahead of a key Fed chair speech
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Global shares traded mixed on August 23, 2024, ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech that may indicate the pace of interest rate cuts. France's CAC 40 rose 0.3% to 7,546.93; Germany's DAX gained 0.4% to 18,563.15; Britain's FTSE 100 added nearly 0.2% to 8,302.17. U.S. Dow futures were up 0.3% at 40,930.00, and S&P 500 futures rose 0.4% to 5,614.75. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% to 38,364.27, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped less than 0.1% to 8,023.90. Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda indicated gradual interest rate increases. U.S. economic data showed mixed signals, with more unemployment claims than expected and a split in business activity. The Fed's main interest rate is at its highest in over two decades, with expectations for cuts in September 2024. Energy prices rose slightly, with U.S. crude at $73.48 per barrel and Brent crude at $77.71.

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https://gazette.com/ap/international/trading-in-global-markets-is-mixed-and-muted-ahead-of-a-key-fed-chair-speech/article_60ae6f7c-75e0-503d-82b9-edf316511fda.html