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Our team compiles this daily market report from global sources to highlight key market updates and what they mean for your investment portfolio.
Dow Jones S&P-500 Nasdaq
+0.4% +0.2% +0.07%
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The Update: Stocks rose on Tuesday as Wall Street assessed the latest batch of corporate earnings and the timeline for rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland president Loretta Mester suggested she’s not in a rush to begin cutting interest rates, saying policymakers will probably gain confidence to cut rates “later this year” if the economy evolves as expected. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said the central bank is "not done yet" with inflation although he noted it had come down quickly with three-month and six-month inflation data "basically" at the Fed's 2% goal. Source: CNBC, Reuters, AFR
The Impact: This morning's market sentiment has been tempered by recent statements from Federal Reserve Governors. Expectations for rate cuts in March and May have been diminished, leading the market to anticipate cuts later in the year. Overnight, there was minimal activity in response to the absence of significant US economic data. Treasury yields held steady above 4%, influenced by the hawkish tone of the Federal Reserve Governors' remarks. As earnings reports for the previous quarter continue to roll in, over half of S&P 500 companies have shown an impressive year-over-year increase of more than 8%. Source: Reuters, CNBC
European markets closed higher Tuesday, as investor confidence remained robust despite the lack of a clear timetable for interest rate cuts. Source: CNBC
The German government has approved a plan to provide $17 billion in subsidies for gas power plants capable of transitioning to hydrogen, according to the economy ministry. This initiative aims to support renewable energy and accelerate the shift to low-carbon generation. The ministry suggests developing hydrogen transition plans by 2032 to facilitate the complete switch to hydrogen in these plants between 2035 and 2040. Germany has committed to tendering 8.8 GW of new hydrogen plants, along with up to 15 GW initially running on natural gas before transitioning to the hydrogen grid by 2035 at the latest, as agreed with the European Commission last year. Source: Reuters
Commercial property is in a tailspin globally but the extent was recently highlighted in London when a 12-storey tower in Canary Wharf, an unofficial financial district, has reportedly been sold for a 60% loss on its 2017 purchase price. The news is another nail in the coffin of Canary Wharf following the planned exit of major banking tenants such as HSBC, who plan to move back into the city. It is likely we will see the conversion of these towers to residential as the demand for commercial real estate wanes due to hybrid work cultures.
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