By Ritu Capital Sands Asian equities traded mostly lower in morning trade on Monday amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and uncertainties surrounding the singing of the Sino-U.S. phase one trade deal. China’s Shanghai Composite and the Shenzhen Component both gained 0.4%. Sino-U.S. trade developments remained in focus. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a […]
Political News
Brent jumps nearly $3 after U.S. air strike kills Iran, Iraq officials
By Ritu, Capital Sands Bret crude futures jumped close to $3 on Friday to their highest since September after a U.S. air strike killed key Iranian and Iraqi military personnel, raising concerns that escalating Middle East tensions may disrupt oil supplies. Brent crude futures jumped nearly $3 to hit a high of $69.16 a barrel, […]
Dollar trims annual gains in low volatility year, more action seen in 2020
By Ritu, Capital Sands The dollar was on the defensive on Monday in light year-end trading after suffering a setback the previous session, as hopes of a U.S.-China trade deal lifted investors’ risk appetite, sapping safe-haven demand for the greenback. The dollar index was stable at 96.942 against six major currencies after sliding 0.6% on Friday for […]
Trade optimism puts floor on dollar/yen, boosts Aussie
By Ritu, Capital Sands The dollar hovered near a six-month high versus the Japanese yen while the Australian dollar climbed to its strongest since July on Friday, buoyed by easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions. The optimism around prospects for a trade deal reduced demand for safe-haven currencies such as the yen, but with global currency markets […]
Oil climbs, lifted by U.S.-China trade deal hopes, OPEC cuts
By Ritu, Capital Sands Oil prices rose on Thursday, buoyed by a potential breakthrough in the Sino-U.S. trade war and OPEC-led efforts to constrain supply, although trading was quiet as many markets were in holiday mode. Brent crude was up 28 cents, or 0.4%, at $67.48 a barrel by 0651 GMT. West Texas Intermediate was […]
Cong bigwigs on ‘satyagraha’ against CAA Jagan says won’t implement NRC
By Ritu, Capital Sands Stating that democracy in India is under threat from the BJP-led government at the Center, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to chief ministers and senior leaders belonging to opposition parties urging them to unite and chalk out a plan to “save the country”. As massive anti-Citizenship Amendment Act […]
Battle lines harden over Trump impeachment trial witnesses
By Ritu, Capital Sands The White House on Sunday signaled comfort with plans by Senate Republicans to avoid new witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, while a top Democrat seized on a newly released email on the withholding of U.S. aid to Ukraine to press his case for testimony. The Democratic-led House of […]
China says bilateral relationship with U.S. has experienced serious difficulties
By Ritu, Capital Sands China said Friday its relationship with the United States had experienced serious difficulties, but they should work in accordance with the consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders to push forward a stable bilateral relationship. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng made the comment at a meeting with the U.S. […]
In historic moment U.S. House impeaches Donald Trump for abuse of power
By Ritu, Capital Sands Donald Trump became the third U.S. president to be impeached on Wednesday, as the House of Representatives formally charged him with abuse of power in a historic step that will inflame partisan tensions across a deeply divided America. The Democratic-led House passed the abuse of power article of impeachment on […]
Trump ratings highest ever over economics despite impeachment proceedings
By Ritu, Capital Sands Strong economic figures have helped US President Donald Trump to his highest approval ratings ever, despite impeachment, a new poll found Monday. Although the Quinnipiac University survey said Trump has a high of 43 per cent for his job approval, that is still far below nearly all previous presidents in modern times […]