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Global Stocks Mixed on Inflation, Energ07/05 05:24
Shares declined Tuesday in Europe after an upbeat session in Asia, while
Wall Street futures slipped ahead of the reopening of U.S. markets from the
Independence Day holiday.
TOKYO (AP) -- Shares declined Tuesday in Europe after an upbeat session in
Asia, while Wall Street futures slipped ahead of the reopening of U.S. markets
from the Independence Day holiday.
Benchmarks also fell in Paris, London, Frankfurt and Shanghai. But stocks
gained in Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong.
The war in Ukraine and its impact on energy supplies are casting a shadow
over the global economic outlook at a time when central banks are raising
interest rates to slow inflation.
The International Energy Agency said in a report Tuesday that high prices
for natural gas and supply fears due to the war in Ukraine will crimp economic
activity, slowing the growth in demand in coming years.
The Paris-based agency forecast global demand for natural gas will rise by
140 billion cubic meters between 2021 and 2025, less than half the increase of
370 bcm seen in the previous five-year period. It said the revised forecast is
mostly due to expectations of slower economic growth rather than buyers
switching from gas to coal, oil or renewable energy.
A recent report by Fitch Ratings said a technical recession in the region
using the euro was increasingly likely due to disruptions in Russian gas
supplies to Europe.
Germany's DAX fell 1.1% to 12,630.86 while the CAC 40 in Paris lost 1.2% to
5,885.94. Britain's FTSE 100 declined 1.3% to 7,135.52. The future for the S&P
500 was 0.6% lower while that for the Dow industrials fell 0.5%.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gathered top employer and labor union
representatives at his Berlin office Monday to seek ways of addressing the
impact of rising prices while preventing a spiral of inflation in Europe's
biggest economy.
Benchmarks in Asia were mostly higher on hopes for an easing of trade
tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.0% to finish at 26,423.47. South
Korea's Kospi jumped 1.8% to 2,341.78. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 0.1%
to 21,856.85. The Shanghai Composite was little changed, losing less than 0.1%
to 3,404.03.
China's Commerce Ministry said Tuesday that Vice Premier Liu He spoke with
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen about coordinating economic policy between the
two biggest economies and maintaining the stability of supply chains.
In a statement, it also said the Chinese side "expressed its concern over
issues such as the removal of additional tariffs and sanctions imposed by the
United States on China and fair treatment of Chinese companies." The two sides
agreed to continue their discussions, it said.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to 6,629.30 after the central bank lifted
its benchmark interest rate for a third time in three straight months, changing
the cash rate to 1.35% from 0.85%. The Reserve Bank of Australia's half a
percentage point rise on Tuesday was the same size as its June increase.
When the bank lifted the rate by a quarter percentage point at its monthly
board meeting in May, it was the first rate hike in more than 11 years.
Global investors have been worried about surging inflation and the
possibility that higher interest rates could bring on a recession in some
economies. Minutes of the latest policy meeting of the Federal Reserve are due
out on Wednesday and could bring hints on future policy.
Meanwhile, a resurgence in COVID-19 infections in Europe, the U.S. and parts
of Asia is also looming, bringing the threat of a reversion to pandemic
precautions.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude picked up 55 cents to $108.98 a
barrel. It gained $2.67 on Friday to $108.43 a barrel. Trading was closed
Monday. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 77 cents to $112.73 a
barrel.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 135.75 Japanese yen from
135.69 yen. The euro cost $1.0317, down from $1.0423.
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