ASIA/PACIFIC
-The Australian stock market has hit another record on Thursday, buoyed by gains in the healthcare and finance sectors.
-Asian markets were higher after the Bank of Korea unexpectedly cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.0%.
-Pakistan’s benchmark share index rose 1% to breach 100,000 points for the first time on Thursday, before easing back below that level. The market is up more than 50% this year in dollar terms.
. EUROPE
-European stocks closed higher although the volume of business remained thin in most of the markets in the region due to Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.
-Eurozone’s consumer confidence index was confirmed at a negative 13.7 points in the Eurozone.
-Switzerland’s SIX Group announced Thursday that Bjorn Sibbern will assume the position of CEO effective January 1, 2025.
. AMERICAS
North America
-U.S. markets are closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving holiday.
Latin America
-Bolivia aims to sell bonds next year: Government will use proceeds for liability management, budgetary support, Latin Finance reported.
. AFRICA
-Egypt aims to diversify financing tools, markets to broaden investor base, reduce debt, Egypt’s Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk told the 8th session of the meeting of government and finance experts held at the UNCTAD headquarters in Geneva.
-Nigeria’s stock market attracted N502 billion inflow in October, but foreign investors remain wary, Nairametrics reported.
-Standard Chartered is exploring a potential divestment of its wealth and retail banking operations in Botswana, Uganda and Zambia, the banking giant said on Wednesday (Nov. 27).
. MIDDLE EAST
-Major stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Thursday following Israel’s agreement to a ceasefire deal with Lebanon’s Hezbollah group under a deal brokered by the U.S. and France.
-The total net profits of Oman’s listed companies on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) increased by 4.3% to $1.64bn (approximately RO632mn) during the first nine months of 2024, a new report from Kamco Investment showed.
-Riyadh-based Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) has begun issuing a Saudi riyal-denominated Additional Tier 1 sukuk by way of private placement in the kingdom. The offering closes on 5 December, 2024.
. COMMODITIES
GOLD
Spot gold fell 0.3% to $2,627.60 per ounce while U.S. gold futures shed 0.5% to $2,627.00.
SILVER-PLATINUM-PALLADIUM
Spot silver fell nearly 1% to $29.78 per ounce, platinum 0.1% to $928.05 and palladium was steady at $972.75.
OIL
Brent crude futures fell by 4 cents, or 0.1%, to $72.79 per barrel by 0220 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were a cent lower at $68.71 a barrel.
