European stocks closed higher on Tuesday ahead of Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s speech. The euro strengthened after Yellen implied rates would remain lower longer. The shared currency rose to $1.1294 late Tuesday in New York compared with $1.1198 late Monday. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.5%. Germany’s DAX 30 added 0.4% to 9887.94, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.9% while UK’s FTSE 100 edged down less than 0.1%. Today at 11:00 CET March economic and consumer confidence indexes will be released in euro-zone. And at 14:00 CET preliminary Consumer Price Index will be published in Germany. The tentative outlook is positive for the euro.
Asian stocks are climbing today supported by Fed Chair Jane Yellen’s dovish comments. Chinese stocks are rising with Shanghai Composite Index up 2.7%, Australian stocks are advancing too with ASX All Ordinaries Index up 0.1%. Nikkei fell 1.3% today hitting lowest level in two weeks as exporters were hurt by stronger yen. Shipping stocks were sold off after data indicated Japan's factory output fell 6.2% month-on-month in February, the most since 2011. Given weak consumer spending and slowdown in China’s growth, major export market for Japanese output, falling factory output spurred concerns Japan’s economy may contract in first quarter.
Oil futures prices are rebounding today after falling for fifth straight session on Tuesday following news Kuwait and Saudi Arabia would resume production at the jointly operated 300,000 barrel-per-day Khafji field even as major oil producers are considering agreeing on an output freeze. May Brent crude closed down 2.8% to $39.14 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures exchange, above the session’s lows as the US dollar weakened. Prices are rebounding today after American Petroleum Institute industry group report late Tuesday forecast US crude stocks likely rose by 2.6 million barrels last week, less than analysts' expectations. Today at 16:30 CET US Crude Inventories will be released by Energy Information Administration.
This overview has an informative character and is not financial advice or a recommendation. IFCMarkets. Corp. under any circumstances is not liable for any action taken by someone else after reading this article.
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