ASIA/PACIFIC
-The Australian stock market closed at a record high on Monday, buoyed by technology stocks and parts of the resources sector.
-Asian markets traded mostly higher after the release of robust Chinese factory activity data. China’s manufacturing PMI rose to 51.5 in November, according to a report by S&P Global.
-Japan’s Jibun Bank Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 49 in November, indicating a decrease in activity in the country’s manufacturing sector, S&P Global said.
. EUROPE
-European markets closed higher Monday, as investors monitored the global economic and interest rate outlook heading into the final trading month of the year.
-Shares of Stellantis, the world’s fifth-largest automaker by volume, fell more than 8% after CEO Carlos Tavares announced his immediate resignation over the weekend citing “different views” between the executive and the board of directors.
-The United Kingdom Office for Statistics Regulation announced on Monday that it will decide in February next year whether the release of sensitive economic data before market hours should be discontinued in London following feedback from traders seeking changes to current practices.
. AMERICAS
North America
-Technology stocks had a good session on Wall Street although the broad market remained somewhat sluggish as investors looked toward the final month of trading this year.
Latin America
-Ecuador ends private control of crucial oil infrastructure, The Rio Times reported.
. AFRICA
-International buyers have made over half a billion dollars in upfront payments to Ghana’s state marketing board, Cocobod, to secure cocoa supplies and prevent further financial losses, Bizcommunity.com reeported.
-The OPEC Fund for International Development has signed a US$40 million loan as part of a US$394 million sustainability-linked loan for ETC Group (ETG), one of Africa’s largest agricultural commodity supply chain managers.
-Egypt’s Ministry of Finance is set to issue 33 treasury bill and bond auctions worth EGP 751bn in December 2024, Daily News Egypt reported.
. MIDDLE EAST
-Mideast stocks trade mixed with Saudi market falling on regional geopolitics.
-Oman’s Islamic finance market will hit $40bln in the medium-term Fitch Ratings said in a report.
-Saudi Arabia’s United International Holding Company (UIHC) is set to begin the listing and trading of its shares on the Main Market of the Tadawul on Tuesday (Dec. 3).
. COMMODITIES
GOLD
Spot gold fell 0.7% to $2,636.38 per ounce, as of 0204 GMT. U.S. gold futures edged 0.8% lower to $2,658.80.
SILVER-PLATINUM-PALLADIUM
Spot silver shed 0.7% to $30.39 per ounce, platinum fell 0.2% to $944.20 and palladium dropped 0.3% to $975.44
OIL
Brent crude futures climbed 8 cents, or 0.1%, to $71.92 a barrel by 0107 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $68.09 a barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.1%. Oil ticked higher on improved China data and as Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire pact, stoking tensions in the Middle East.
