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Gold prices neared a two-week high on Thursday, boosted by expectations of a Fed interest rate cut in September following labor market easing.
The ADP report showed 152K nonfarm private jobs were added in May, down from 188K in April and lower than the expected 173K gain.
The US stock market rose over 14% in H1, led by tech giants Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Apple, boosting the S&P 500's performance.
Asia-Pacific markets rose as Fed Chair Powell noted progress on inflation. Nikkei 225 surpassed 40,000 for the first time since March.
Oil prices remained steady on Tuesday, near two-month highs, due to expected rising fuel demand from the travel season.
Megacaps' unstoppable rise, central bank pivots, political turmoil, and M&A resurgence made the first half of 2024 a whirlwind in world markets.
Gold prices pared gains Friday after rising over 1% previously, with a focus on key US inflation data for Fed policy clues.
Japanese retail investors bet on yen reversal, pushing rates to new lows and risking Tokyo intervention.
April inflation rose as expected, keeping markets on edge about rate cuts. Annual core inflation was 2.8%, the same as last month.
The yen hovered near a 38-year low below 160 per dollar. Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said authorities would take the necessary actions.
Oil prices fell early on Wednesday in Asia due to unexpected US stockpile jumps, which raised concerns about weaker demand trends.
The yen hit a 34-year low of 160 per dollar on Tuesday, subduing Asian shares. Japan’s Nikkei 225 reached 39,000, its highest since June 11.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 closed slightly lower Friday, with Nvidia shares declining for a second day, showing signs of big tech exhaustion.
Sterling aimed for a third gain against the Swiss franc on Friday due to BOE and SNB policy divergence, but a sour market mood capped it.
