ASIA/PACIFIC
-The Australian stock market closed lower on Thursday as investors reacted to Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on China.
-Asian stocks turned in a mixed performance despite China announcing it will guide big state insurers and commercial insurance funds to increase investments in the A-share market.
-The Bank of Japan is holding its next policy meeting today and tomorrow, where the BOJ governor Kazuo Ueda had signaled intentions to hike rates.
. EUROPE
-European stocks were trading slightly higher on Thursday, on the back of positive momentum throughout the week.
-European banks to reward investors with bumper €123bn in payouts, the Financial Times reported.
-Markets are significantly underestimating the chance that the Bank of England will have to step up the pace of cutting interest rates, Goldman Sachs has argued.
. AMERICAS
North America
-Stock exchanges in New York City traded lower during Thursday’s premarket hours as investors digested the latest corporate news and earnings results.
Latin America
-Brazil’s capital markets are set to continue expanding this year, though growth in primary issuance is unlikely to match last year’s breakneck pace, according to industry group Anbima.
-Moody’s cut Mexico growth forecast to 0.6% for 2025 amid trade tensions.
. AFRICA
-The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially approved the release of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code, a move aimed at fostering ethical conduct and transparency within the nation’s foreign exchange market.
-Only 39% of African businesses use African currencies to finance their cross- border deals, a big fall from the 69% re- corded in 2022, according to African Banker.
-The rapid growth of financial technology (fintech) is reshaping Uganda’s banking sector, providing new opportunities for financial inclusion and transforming how Ugandans manage their money, the East African reported.
. MIDDLE EAST
-Major stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trading on Thursday.
-ESG sukuk issuances to reach $50bln in 2025 amid funding needs in GCC, EMs.
-The strong global investor appetite for Saudi Arabian debt helped the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund price its $4 billion USD dual tranche notes tighter than initial price thoughts (IPT): Investor demand topped $16bln across the tranches, excluding JLM interest, Zawya reported.
. COMMODITIES
GOLD
Spot gold eased 0.4% to $2,744.14 per ounce while U.S. gold futures shed 0.7% to $2,750.80.
OIL
Brent crude futures dipped 2 cents to $78.98 a barrel by 0941 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate
crude (WTI) lost 4 cents to $75.40.
