📊 Market Snapshot — Thu 16 Apr

🇺🇸 Daily Market Recap — U.S. Markets

Wall Street experienced a modest uptick on Thursday, with US benchmark indices closing in positive territory. The S&P 500 rose by 0.26% to 7041.28, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.24% to settle at 48578.72. The Nasdaq Composite also advanced, climbing 0.36% to 24102.703. The broader market’s upward movement was not tied to any specific domestic economic data or events, suggesting a steady risk appetite among investors. Notably, AXTI emerged as a significant gainer, surging by 29.95%, while SCHW faced a decline of 7.63%, reflecting mixed performances among individual stocks.

The market’s performance came amid a backdrop of international economic developments, though these did not directly impact US trading. In China, key economic indicators such as GDP and industrial production showed mixed results, with GDP growth for the first quarter rising to 1.3% on a quarterly basis. However, industrial production for March decreased to 5.7% year-over-year. These figures, while not directly influencing Wall Street, contribute to the global economic landscape that investors monitor closely. Meanwhile, Australia’s employment data revealed an increase in full-time employment, although the overall labor force change showed a decline, indicating a nuanced economic environment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Looking ahead, market participants will likely keep an eye on upcoming speeches from key central bank figures, including the European Central Bank’s President Christine Lagarde and the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. These events could provide further insights into monetary policy directions, potentially influencing global market sentiment. As the week progresses, traders will be assessing how these developments might impact future market dynamics.

🏆 Wall Street Movers

Top two gainers in the last trading session include AXT Inc (AXTI), surged 29.95% to .

Losers include Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW), erasing 7.63% to .

Elsewhere, most active counters were NVDA, INTC, GRAB.

🌏 Asia & Europe

Asian markets broadly exhibited positive momentum during the session on Thursday, with the Nikkei 225 leading the charge, advancing by 2.38% to close at 59,518.34. This rally was supported by robust economic data from China, where industrial production rose by 6.3% year-on-year, and GDP growth for the quarter came in at 1.2%. The Hang Seng Index also posted a significant gain of 1.69%, reaching 26,386.0, as investors reacted positively to the Chinese economic indicators. However, the Jakarta Composite Index bucked the regional trend, slipping by 0.36% to 7,596.098, with no specific economic events cited to explain the decline.

In Europe, major exchanges saw modest gains, with the Euro Stoxx 50 climbing 0.39% to 5,963.22. The CAC 40 increased by 0.33% to 8,301.78, while the DAX edged up 0.13% to 24,098.49. The market movements in Europe were largely steady, with no major economic announcements driving significant shifts. However, the speeches from key central bank figures, including ECB President Christine Lagarde, may have contributed to the cautious optimism seen across the continent. The FTSE 100 in the UK also rose by 0.29% to 10,589.99, reflecting a similar sentiment of measured gains across the region.

💵 Forex Markets

🌐 Other Markets

🪙 Gold is up by 0.05% (2.60 USD an ounce) to 4,810.90 USD an ounce as on Thu. Previous day close was 4,808.30.

🪨 Silver is down by 0.32% (0.25 USD an ounce) to 78.46 USD an ounce as on Thu. Previous day close was 78.71.

🛢️ Crude Oil is down by 1.67% (1.52 USD per barrel) to 89.65 USD per barrel as on Thu. Previous day close was 91.17.

₿ Bitcoin is up by 0.33% (248.29 USD) to 75,061.51 USD as on Thu. Previous day close was 74,813.22.