world capital market

World Capital Markets 20.01.2025

ASIA/PACIFIC


-The ASX 200 climbed 0.6% to 8,356.1 points, supported by optimism from a positive call between President Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping.

-The Hang Seng Index increased by 1.8%, influenced by China’s central bank maintaining key lending rates. Positive developments in U.S.-China trade relations also contributed to market optimism.

-Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose by 1.2%, reflecting improved trading sentiments and expectations of stable monetary policy.

. EUROPE


-European stocks closed higher with Trump inauguration in the spotlight, reacting positively to reports that the Trump administration will hold off on imposing trade tariffs for now.

-Germany’s DAX index achieved a new record, surpassing the 21,000-point mark for the first time, closing at 21,016 points. The increase was driven by expectations of continued low interest rates in the U.S. and Eurozone.

-UK house prices increased the most since 2020 and new sellers coming to the market hit a record in January, data from the property website Rightmove showed.

. AMERICAS  


North America

-U.S. markets were closed on January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Latin America

-Gerdau, Brazil’s leading steelmaker, has announced a bold share buyback initiative for 2025.

-Latin America’s most valuable bank, Nubank, is reportedly planning to relocate its legal domicile from the Cayman Islands to the United Kingdom.

. AFRICA


-United Bank for Africa announced plans to expand its operations in the Middle East, with intentions to open a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia.

-Nigeria has officially joined BRICS as a partner country, confirmed by Brazil’s Foreign Ministry.

-The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) is poised for growth this year despite current challenges, with analysts predicting a steady rise in market capitalisation driven by improving liquidity.

. MIDDLE EAST


-Most Gulf stock markets ended higher on Monday, buoyed by the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

-The Bank of Israel urged lawmakers to approve the 2025 state budget without modifications to maintain market confidence.

-Bahrain’s Bank ABC has dropped plans to issue a $400 million Reg S AT1 Capital Securities after it announced initial price thoughts of 8% last week.


Spot gold added 0.3% to $2,709.09 per ounce as of 1:49 p.m. ET while U.S. gold futures fell 0.7% at $2,730.20.

Spot silver rose 0.7% to $30.52 per ounce, palladium shed 0.8% to $940.29 and platinum declined 0.2% to $940.70.

Brent crude futures closed down by 64 cents, or 0.8%, at $80.15 in early settlement while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down by $1.30, or 1.7%, at $76.58, according to Reuters.