United News of Bangladesh

Oil prices remained largely unchanged Tuesday after rising 5% in the previous session, as uncertainty continued over when the Strait of Hormuz might reopen and allow crude shipments to resume normally. US stock futures edged higher in early trading. Brent crude was unchanged at $87.72 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate also remained flat at $82.13 a barrel. Brent prices jumped 5% Monday after fluctuating sharply in recent weeks amid uncertainty over whether the United States and Iran could reach an agreement that would allow oil tankers to leave the Middle East freely and supply global markets. Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday after US shares moved lower from their recent record highs. South Korea's Kospi rose 1.5% to 6,391.71, helped by a 4.6% gain in Samsung Electronics shares. Chipmaker SK Hynix also advanced 1.3%. Tokyo markets remained closed for a public holiday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.6% to 25,773.56, while the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.1% to 3,964.79. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.5% to 9,277 after the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.35%. Taiwan's Taiex rose 0.4%, while India's Sensex declined 0.4%. On Wall Street Monday, the S&P 500 fell 0.1% from Friday's record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also lost 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite declined 0.3%. The strong US stock market rally has recently slowed despite robust corporate earnings. According to FactSet, earnings per share for S&P 500 companies are expected to have risen about 50% in the spring from a year earlier. If confirmed, it would mark the strongest growth in five years. Berkshire Hathaway rose 1.5% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profit. The company, which is known for investing in stocks it considers attractively priced, also said it had invested part of its large cash reserves in stocks under new CEO Greg Abel. MarineMax surged 46.1% after the retailer and marina operator agreed to be acquired for about $1.5 billion in cash by a Blackstone portfolio company. Varex Imaging jumped 48.8% after Teledyne Technologies announced plans to acquire the X-ray imaging components maker for $18.90 per share in cash. Intel shares, however, fell 4.1% after the company said it could sell up to $15 billion worth of stock. The move could reduce existing shareholders' ownership stakes, while the company said the proceeds would likely be used to invest in artificial intelligence technology. Investors are now focusing on Wednesday's US inflation report for July. Economists expect annual inflation to ease to 3.4% from 3.5% in June, which could reduce pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. Higher interest rates can help control inflation but may also slow economic growth by increasing borrowing costs for households and businesses. They can also put pressure on stock and other investment prices. In currency trading early Tuesday, the US dollar slipped to 159.19 Japanese yen from 159.30 yen. The dollar has continued to strengthen against the yen despite recent intervention by Japan and the US aimed at supporting the Japanese currency. The euro was unchanged at $1.1544. Gold, which is often considered a safe-haven asset during periods of uncertainty, rose 1.2% to $4,472.90 an ounce.

Asian shares were mixed on Monday after US stocks ended last week higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 leading gains. Oil prices also rose amid concerns over tensions in the Middle East and threats to key shipping routes. US stock futures were little changed. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 2% to 66,890.02, helped by strong gains in technology stocks. Tokyo Electron, which makes equipment for chip production, gained 3.5%, while chip-testing equipment maker Advantest jumped 4.9%. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.8% to 6,305.86, although major chipmakers fell. Samsung Electronics dropped 0.9% and SK Hynix declined 1.3%. Analysts said some foreign investors were selling shares in major technology companies to take profits after recent gains and shift money into other sectors, including defense companies. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.6% to 25,810.95, while China's Shanghai Composite was almost unchanged at 3,941.48. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4% to 9,231.00. Taiwan's Taiex rose 1.8%, while India's Sensex gained 0.1%. Oil prices climbed amid renewed concerns over the Middle East. Israel rejected a Gaza deal announced by US President Donald Trump, while details also emerged about a possible agreement between Iran and Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has suggested that vessels linked to countries it considers hostile could be barred from using the strategic waterway. Meanwhile, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked a government-controlled port on the country's Red Sea coast, raising further concerns about the safety of shipping routes and the possibility of renewed conflict in Yemen. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 0.6% to $84.04 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.5% to $78.58 a barrel. Wall Street ends week higherUS stocks gained on Friday after government data showed employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month. The weaker jobs figures raised expectations that the Federal Reserve could delay raising interest rates as it tries to control inflation. The news helped push all three major US indexes to their second consecutive weekly gains, with the S&P 500 reaching another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 7,757.64, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.3% to 54,036.93. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.3% to 26,690.62. The jobs report also raised concerns about household spending as inflation remains high. The government revised its figures for May and June, reducing the combined number of jobs reported for those months by 103,000. Slower job growth makes it more difficult for the Federal Reserve to balance supporting employment with controlling inflation. Higher interest rates can reduce inflation by slowing economic activity, but they can also make borrowing more expensive for businesses. Technology companies again led the gains. Nvidia rose 2.3%, while Broadcom gained 1.7%. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note fell to 4.64% from 4.67% before the jobs report. The two-year Treasury yield, which is more closely linked to expectations for Federal Reserve policy, dropped to 4.20% from 4.22%. Inflation data in focusInvestors will closely watch several inflation reports this week, particularly the consumer price index (CPI). US consumer inflation is expected to have risen 3.4% in July, slightly slower than the 3.5% increase recorded in June. Inflation has remained above 3% for most of the year. In early Monday trading, the US dollar rose to 158.37 Japanese yen from 157.71 yen. The euro fell to $1.1553 from $1.1568.

Asian stocks were mixed on Friday after US shares pulled back in the previous session, while oil prices climbed more than 1% amid continued uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% to 65,500.10, while South Korea's Kospi declined 0.8% to 6,242.88. Taiwan's Taiex also dropped 0.4%. In contrast, China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.8% to 3,931.54 after the country reported that exports increased by around 24% in July. Although growth slowed slightly, demand remained strong for electronics and other high-tech products. China's trade surplus narrowed during the month, while imports also eased. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged up 0.2% to 25,582.34, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped less than 0.1% to 9,265.20. On Wall Street, stocks fell Thursday as higher oil prices and a stream of corporate earnings weighed on investors. The S&P 500 declined 0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.9% and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.1%. Brent crude jumped nearly 4% Thursday as uncertainty continued over efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supplies. Iran has said it is nearing an agreement with Oman on reopening the strategic waterway, while US President Donald Trump has also previously indicated that a deal could be close. However, negotiations have faced repeated setbacks over the past five months. A reopening could require a compromise, as the Trump administration has rejected any Iranian plan to charge fees to ships. Iran, meanwhile, has insisted on retaining some control over the waterway. Early Friday, Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 1.6% to $83.78 a barrel, while US benchmark crude gained 1.2% to $78.22. About one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas previously passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have climbed as high as $113 a barrel during the conflict, increasing inflationary pressure by raising fuel and shipping costs. Markets remain concerned about the war and the possibility of an investment bubble linked to artificial intelligence. However, stronger-than-expected corporate earnings have eased some worries that US stocks may be overvalued. About 85% of S&P 500 companies have reported their latest earnings, with overall profit growth on track to be the strongest since 2021. Warner Bros. Discovery gained 1.7% after posting better-than-expected earnings, while Molson Coors rose 1.3% following encouraging results. Honeywell Aerospace was among the biggest losers, falling 23.2% after its results came in well below expectations. Digital advertising company AppLovin dropped 19.7% after reporting mixed quarterly results. Meanwhile, SpaceX shares rose 6.1% after a lockup period expired Thursday, making more than 911 million shares held by early investors and employees eligible for sale. That figure is more than twice the number of shares initially offered to the public in the company's initial public offering. SpaceX shares climbed as high as $225 following its market debut in June but have since fallen below the initial offering price of $135. The stock was trading around $115. Investors are also awaiting the US monthly jobs report for July, due Friday. The US labour market remains relatively strong, although hiring growth has slowed. A weekly report released Thursday showed applications for unemployment benefits increased last week, though layoffs remained at historically low levels seen in recent years. Employers added only 57,000 jobs in June. In early Friday trading, the US dollar slipped to 158.35 Japanese yen from 158.42 yen, while the euro was unchanged at $1.1524.

Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday after Wall Street rallied, while oil prices recovered some of their losses following a sharp drop a day earlier. Investors were also assessing the impact of last week’s joint intervention by the United States and Japan to support the Japanese yen, analysts said. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% to 63,585.58. The US dollar rose slightly to 157.51 yen from 157.18 yen, while the euro was trading at $1.1511, little changed from $1.1514. The dollar had been trading around 160 yen before authorities stepped in to strengthen the Japanese currency after it had fallen close to a 40-year low. Some analysts questioned how effective the intervention would be in the long run, saying it does not address the underlying economic factors driving currency movements, including inflation, interest rates and differences in economic strength. A report by BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said US backing gives the intervention stronger influence than action by Tokyo alone and could make speculators more cautious. However, it said the size of any US contribution would likely be limited. Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at financial services firm Ebury, said the latest move could have a greater impact because it appears to signal a broader change in monetary policy rather than a one-off effort to defend the yen. "This is an historic and meaningful development for the yen," he said, adding that it has strengthened confidence in the currency’s prospects. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.3% to 6,174.72, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.2% to 9,129.00. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.5% to 25,881.99, while the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2% to 3,802.61. Investors also remained cautious about sharp swings in chipmaker stocks. Such shares have moved up and down in recent weeks amid concerns over whether strong revenues driven by the artificial intelligence boom can continue. On Wall Street, stocks rose strongly Monday as falling oil prices eased some concerns about inflation. The S&P 500 gained 1.5%, leaving it just 0.1% below its record high reached earlier this summer. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 693 points, or 1.3%, to a record high, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.1%. In early Asian trading Tuesday, US benchmark crude rose 84 cents to $81.18 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, gained $1.15 to $84.92 a barrel. Oil prices had plunged more than 5% a day earlier after US President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he had decided to delay new strikes against Iran following appeals from regional allies. Brent crude prices swung between $72 and $102 a barrel last month as concerns about the Iran war and the movement of oil tankers through the Persian Gulf changed. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note fell to 4.68% from 4.75% late Friday. However, it remained well above the 3.97% level recorded before the war with Iran.

Oil prices fell and most Asian stocks traded lower Thursday as investors sold shares of major chipmakers, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi extended its sharp losses. Oil markets remained volatile after the United States said it had carried out a “heavy wave” of strikes against Iran in response to an attack on a US military base. US stock futures edged higher after Wall Street ended lower on Wednesday. In South Korea, the Kospi has come under heavy pressure following a sharp rally driven by the global artificial intelligence boom. Some analysts say the recent sell-off reflects growing concerns about the huge amounts technology companies are spending to expand AI-related capacity. The Kospi was down 1.3% at 5,587.82 on Thursday after plunging 10.8% Tuesday and nearly 6% Wednesday. It has fallen more than 35% from its record high of above 9,000 reached in June, although it remains about 30% higher so far this year. Samsung Electronics rose 2.4% after the technology giant reported record operating profit for the latest quarter, broadly matching market expectations. Chipmaker SK Hynix fell 4% after dropping more than 9% Wednesday. The company reported a record quarterly operating profit that nearly increased sixfold, but the result fell short of analysts’ expectations, prompting investors to sell its shares. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.6% to 61,778.02. SoftBank Group, which has invested in OpenAI, dropped 2.7%, while Tokyo Electron, a maker of chip production equipment, climbed 4.4%. Memory chipmaker Kioxia Holdings gained 7.5%. Taiwan’s Taiex, another major beneficiary of the AI boom, advanced 0.8%, while leading chipmaker TSMC rose 1.8%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped less than 0.1% to 25,779.70, while the Shanghai Composite fell 1.2% to 3,784.55. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.9% to 8,959.90, while India’s Sensex edged up less than 0.1%. Oil prices remain volatileOil prices fell Thursday despite renewed exchanges of attacks between the US and Iran. US President Donald Trump said Washington would hit Iran “very hard” after Iranian forces attacked a US base in Jordan. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supplies, remains limited, raising concerns about disruptions to international energy markets. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 1% to $87.18 a barrel after rising sharply the previous day. It was trading at around $72 a barrel in late February, before the war began. US benchmark crude fell 0.9% to $83.74 a barrel. US stocks end lowerOn Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 1.5% to 7,316.15 on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.2% to 51,594.14, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite declined 1.7% to 24,442.94. Major chipmakers also suffered losses. Nvidia fell 3.6%, Advanced Micro Devices dropped 5.5% and Broadcom declined 2.8%. US stocks were also pressured after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged, although some members of its policy committee had favored raising rates. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh reaffirmed his commitment to bringing inflation back to the 2% target. At the same time, he maintained his approach of providing financial markets with limited guidance about the central bank’s next interest-rate moves. With fewer signals from the Fed, investors could face more volatile trading as uncertainty over the direction of interest rates continues. “Did the Fed take an explicit change in its policy rate today?” Warsh asked at a news conference after the decision. “No, but I think that's the beginning of the story.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note rose to 4.70% from 4.61% late Tuesday. In early Thursday trading, the US dollar rose to 163.49 Japanese yen from 163.41 yen. The euro fell to $1.1454 from $1.1467.

Asian stock markets posted strong gains on Friday while oil prices fell after US President Donald Trump said progress had been made in efforts to end the Iran war, boosting investor confidence across global markets. US stock futures also moved slightly higher following sharp gains on Wall Street. South Korea's Kospi index surged 7.8 percent to 8,370.82, recovering much of the losses linked to recent sell-offs in artificial intelligence-related stocks. The benchmark index has nearly doubled over the past six months, though it remains below its record closing high reached on June 2. Shares of Samsung Electronics jumped 11.2 percent, while chipmaker SK Hynix gained 7.2 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 advanced 3.5 percent to 66,442.95, led by technology stocks. SoftBank Group rose 2 percent and semiconductor equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron soared 10.3 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 1.8 percent to 24,689.32, while China's Shanghai Composite gained 1.6 percent to 4,050.51. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.9 percent to 8,798.10. Taiwan's Taiex added 2.6 percent and India's Sensex increased 1.2 percent. Investor sentiment improved after Trump said on Thursday that he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran and claimed the United States had reached a significant understanding to end the conflict. He also suggested that an extension of the fragile ceasefire between the two sides could be agreed within days, although he provided few details. Markets had come under pressure earlier this week as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensified. Rising oil prices have fueled inflation concerns worldwide, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil and gas shipments, remained largely closed. Analysts at ING said there appeared to be more encouraging signs surrounding a possible agreement this time, although they cautioned that any ceasefire extension remained uncertain and could still prove fragile. Oil prices retreated as hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough increased. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 1.7 percent to $88.87 per barrel, while US benchmark crude dropped 1.6 percent to $86.33 per barrel. Both remained significantly above pre-war levels of around $70 a barrel. On Thursday, Wall Street recorded broad-based gains. The S&P 500 rose 1.8 percent to 7,394.30, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.9 percent to 50,848.75, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 2.5 percent to 25,809.66. Technology and AI-related stocks have experienced heightened volatility in recent days amid concerns that rapid share price increases and heavy investment spending could signal a market bubble. Marvell Technology jumped 11.1 percent, while Oracle fell 8.5 percent despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, as investors worried about its growing spending commitments. Investors were also watching the highly anticipated Wall Street debut of SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket company, which is expected to become the largest initial public offering on record with plans to raise about $75 billion. In currency trading, the US dollar strengthened to 160.22 Japanese yen from 159.93 yen, while the euro slipped slightly to $1.1574 from $1.1578.

Stock markets across Asia fell on Tuesday while oil prices climbed, as efforts to end the Iran war appeared to lose momentum again. Despite a fragile ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, disrupting a key route for global oil supplies. Many Asian economies, especially resource-dependent Japan, rely heavily on this passage for energy imports. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped 1.1% to 59,884.12 after the central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 0.75%. The Bank of Japan said the economy continues to grow at a moderate pace but warned of a likely slowdown as rising oil and commodity prices linked to the war increase costs. The decision by its policy board was split 6-3, reflecting differing views among members. Pressure has been building for Japan to gradually raise interest rates after years of keeping them near zero to tackle deflation. “There are various risks to the outlook,” the central bank said, noting that developments in the Middle East remain a key concern. Elsewhere in the region, South Korea’s Kospi rose 1% to 6,683.10. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.7% to 25,751.04, while China’s Shanghai Composite declined 0.2% to 4,078.77. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.6% to 8,717.80. Oil prices continued to rise. Brent crude for June delivery increased by $1.11 to $109.34 per barrel. The more actively traded July contract rose $1.08 to $102.77. Before the war, Brent was trading near $70 per barrel but has at times surged close to $120. U.S. benchmark crude also rose 96 cents to $97.33 per barrel. Investors are now awaiting interest rate decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England later this week. On Monday, U.S. markets showed modest gains. The S&P 500 edged up 0.1% to a record high of 7,137.91, following weeks of strong performance driven by solid corporate earnings and hopes that the global economy can withstand the impact of the war. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1% to 49,167.79, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Market attention is also focused on upcoming earnings reports from major tech companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Apple. In the bond market, U.S. Treasury yields rose slightly alongside oil prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury increased to 4.33% from 4.31% late Friday. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar weakened slightly to 159.04 Japanese yen from 159.42 yen, while the euro dipped to $1.1716 from $1.1720.

Asian stock markets climbed in early trading on Friday, following a third consecutive day of gains on Wall Street, fueled by optimism that the Federal Reserve may move to cut interest rates. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9% to reach 35,701.38, while South Korea's Kospi advanced 1% to 2,547.39. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 1.4% to 22,226.19. Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Composite Index was mostly flat, hovering at 3,297.36. Investor sentiment was lifted by speculation that former President Donald Trump may be easing his stance on tariffs and taking a softer tone toward the Federal Reserve. However, Beijing pushed back on Thursday, stating that China is not currently engaged in active trade talks with the U.S. Elsewhere in the region, Taiwan’s Taiex saw a strong gain of 2.3%, while markets in Australia remained closed in observance of Anzac Day. Growth slows for South Asia, Bangladesh hit too: WB Wall Street’s rally kept rolling Thursday as better-than-expected profits for U.S. companies piled up in reports mainly from tech companies like ServiceNow and Texas Instruments, offsetting the uncertainties in the retail sector. Federal Reserve officials boosted expectations for interest rate cuts as they said that they would slash the rate as early as June if Trump’s tariffs hurt the U.S. economy and job market. The S&P 500 charged 2% higher to 5,484.77 and pulled within 11% of its record set earlier this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2% to 40,093.40, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.7% to 17,166.04. In other moves early Friday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 13 cents to $62.92 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, the international standard, added 22 cents to $66.77 per barrel. The U.S dollar rose to 142.96 Japanese yen from 142.69 yen. The euro edged lower, to $1.1349 from $1.1391.    

Asian shares soared on Thursday, with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index surging over 2,000 points shortly after the Tokyo market opened, following President Donald Trump’s decision to ease tariffs on most of the US’s biggest trading partners. The regional market rally was anticipated after US stocks had their best day in history on Wednesday. Investor optimism grew after Trump announced he would ease tariff tensions, alleviating fears of an escalating trade war, AP reports. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 8.3% to 34,353.17, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 4.7% to 7,722.90. South Korea’s Kospi rose by 5.5% to 2,419.37, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 3.7% to 21,003.84. The Shanghai Composite increased 1.5% to 3,232.86. US stocks jitter as bonds strain amid tariff tensions Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, described the shift as "from fear to euphoria". He said, “It’s now a manageable risk, especially as global recession tail bets get unwound, and most of Asia’s exporters breathe a massive sigh of relief.” Trump’s move came after recognising over 75 countries that had been negotiating on trade without retaliating against his tariff hikes. The US President confirmed that he would pause most of the tariffs on these nations for 90 days. However, he maintained a 10% tariff on nearly all global imports, with China remaining a notable exception. Trump announced that tariffs on Chinese goods would rise to 125%, indicating the potential for further market volatility. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 surged by 9.5%, marking a gain that would be considered strong for an entire year. This came after a period of significant market losses, as fears mounted that the trade war could drag the global economy into recession. But after Trump’s announcement on social media, investor sentiment shifted positively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 2,962 points, or 7.9%, while the Nasdaq composite leapt 12.2%. The S&P 500 recorded its third-best day since 1940.

Asian shares skidded Friday after rising bond yields triggered a broad sell-off on Wall Street that erased the markets gain for the week and handed the Nasdaq composite index its steepest loss since October.