The global markets remained close to their historic records on Wednesday, while tensions in the Middle East were subsided and the attention of investors was on American inflation and the prospect of a drop in interest rates. Oil prices rebounded after ending three consecutive decline sessions.
The S&P 500 reference index finished the session without change, remaining close to its record reached on February 19. The gains recorded by technological values ​​and communication services have been offset by loss in real estate, basic consumer goods and communities. The Dow Jones fell, while the Nasdaq has progressed.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.25 % to 42,982.43 points, the S&P 500 remained stable at 6,092.16 points and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.31 % at 19,973.55 points.
European markets fell 0.74 %.
The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ended up 0.96 % overnight. The world MSCI index fell slightly 0.02 % to 902.84 points, after reaching a historic summit earlier in the session.
A ceasefire between Israel and Iran seemed to hold, thereby reducing the risk of disturbances in world oil trade. At a NATO summit on Wednesday, President Donald Trump welcomed the rapid end of the twelve -day conflict, announcing that discussions scheduled for next week would aim to obtain Iran a commitment to end his nuclear ambitions.
The president of the federal reserve, Jerome Powell, continued his two -day testimony on Wednesday before the Congress, this time before the banking committee of the Senate, after being questioned the day before by a commission of the House of Representatives.
“We are witnessing a kind of showdown, whether on tensions in the Middle East or their potential impact on inflation, not to mention the slight rise in oil prices,” commented Sandy Villere, portfolio manager at Villere & Co in New Orleans.
“It would be interesting to see if oil is weakening and inflation remains contained, taking into account Powell’s words. One has the impression that the market shows great resilience. »»
Under -term contracts on the rise
The term contracts on the Brent closed up 0.8 % to $ 67.68 per barrel, while the American crude West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased by 0.9 % to $ 64.92. The two contracts thus erased part of the losses of 13 % suffered earlier in the week. Prices had climbed to five months’ peaks after the American attack on Iranian nuclear installations over the weekend.
Jerome Powell declared before the Senate Commission that the Trump administration’s pricing plans could cause a punctual price increase, but that the risk of more persistent inflation was large enough to encourage the central bank to prudence concerning future rate reductions.
The yield of American bonds at 10 years fell from a basic point to 4.283 %, erasing its previous gains.
The US dollar fell to its lowest level against the euro since 2021, but has progressed against the Japanese yen, a refuge value.
The greenback was reinforced from 0.19 % to 145.19 against the Japanese yen, while backing up from 0.05 % to 0.80480 against the Swiss franc, thus erasing its earlier earnings. The euro increased by 0.43 % to $ 1,1658, reaching its highest level since October 2021.
The dollar index, which measures the American currency in the face of a basket of currencies including yen and euro, fell 0.27 % to 97.69.
Gold prices have evolved contrasting. Cash gold has gained 0.31 % at $ 3,334.10 per ounce. Tower contracts on gold in the United States ended up 0.3 % to $ 3,343.10.
