Business & Markets
Asian stocks rally as Fed rate-hike fears ease
Most Asian stocks rose Friday and government bond yields held their recent losses after comments from senior Federal Reserve officials eased fears that the US central bank would raise interest rates at its September 16 meeting.
Investors were waiting for US non-farm payrolls data later Friday and consumer price index figures next week, both seen as important for the Fed's decision.
Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said Thursday that his decision would be shaped by incoming inflation data. He said he would support keeping rates unchanged if there was continued progress toward the Fed's 2 percent inflation goal, but would consider a rate increase if inflation came in hot.
New York Fed president John Williams told CNBC earlier in the week that policymakers needed to “wait and see”. He said recent inflation data had been encouraging and that inflation appeared to be moving slowly lower as some tariff effects faded.
Wall Street finished higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 1.2 percent at 53,686.11. The Nasdaq also gained more than 1 percent.
In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 closed up 1.3 percent at 65,020.94 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 1.7 percent to 25,650.87. Seoul, Singapore and Taipei climbed more than 1 percent, while Wellington, Manila and Bangkok also advanced. Shanghai's Composite Index closed down 0.3 percent at 3,930.12, while Sydney and Jakarta also dipped.
Paris and Frankfurt retreated at the open, while London's FTSE 100 was up 0.1 percent at 10,838.24 around 0810 GMT.
Markets have been unsettled this week after the Middle East crisis pushed crude prices up about 10 percent, increasing inflation concerns and pressure on central banks. Oil prices fell Friday, with West Texas Intermediate down 0.7 percent at $90.71 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude down 0.6 percent at $94.98.
The yen held gains made over the previous two days amid growing expectations for a Bank of Japan interest rate rise this month. The dollar was at 156.24 yen around 0810 GMT, compared with 155.74 yen on Thursday and around 160.40 on Tuesday.
Paresh Upadhyaya at Pioneer Investments said it appeared the Bank of Japan would raise rates in September and could open the door to a faster pace of increases later.
Update
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was reported closing up 1.7 percent at 25,650.87, replacing the earlier 1.8 percent figure.
London's FTSE 100 was up 0.1 percent at 10,838.24 around 0810 GMT, after earlier European opening weakness.
Oil prices were lower around 0810 GMT, with WTI down 0.7 percent and Brent down 0.6 percent.
The dollar was at 156.24 yen around 0810 GMT, compared with 155.74 yen on Thursday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 08:16:56 UTC.
Update
Tokyo and Shanghai closing figures were updated, with Tokyo up 1.3% and Shanghai down 0.3%.
Hong Kong was up 1.8% at about 0715 GMT, compared with an earlier 2.2% gain.
London opened down 0.3%, and Paris and Frankfurt also retreated at the open.
Oil price and currency figures were updated at about 0715 GMT.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 07:31:21 UTC.
Update
Asian stocks rose Friday, with Hong Kong up more than 2 percent and Seoul up more than 1 percent.
Government bond yields held losses after comments from Federal Reserve officials John Williams and Christopher Waller eased fears of a September rate hike.
Traders were awaiting US non-farm payrolls later Friday and inflation data the following week.
Oil prices ticked higher again as the United States and Iran exchanged fire following a flare-up in their conflict.
The yen held gains near 155.90 per dollar amid expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike this month.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 02:42:14 UTC.
Update
Wall Street's main indexes closed more than 1.0% higher, with the Nasdaq Composite up 1.4%.
The Dow closed up 1.2%, the S&P 500 up 1.1% and the Nasdaq Composite up 1.4%.
Brent crude was down 0.1% at $95.52 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was up 0.3% at $91.30.
Jose Torres of Interactive Brokers linked the rally to Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller hinting at a September pause on interest-rate adjustments.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 September 2026 at 21:06:38 UTC.
Update
The yen was still up more than 2% against the dollar in European trading hours.
Brent crude was up 1.2% at $96.76 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was up 1.4% at $92.27 a barrel around 1530 GMT.
Wall Street gains had widened, with the Dow up 1.2%, the S&P 500 up 1.0% and the Nasdaq Composite up 1.4% around 1530 GMT.
European markets closed higher or nearly flat, with London up 0.7%, Frankfurt up 0.6% and Paris up less than 0.1%.
Bond yields eased, helping stock markets move higher.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 September 2026 at 15:58:45 UTC.
Update
The yen rose more than 2% against the dollar in European trading hours amid renewed speculation about Japanese intervention.
The dollar traded at 155.62 yen around 1330 GMT, compared with 158.89 yen on Wednesday.
Brent crude was up 0.7% at $96.31 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was up 1.1% at $91.97 around 1330 GMT.
Wall Street and major European stock markets were trading higher while bond yields eased.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 September 2026 at 13:48:55 UTC.
Update
Oil prices rose at around 1100 GMT, with Brent up 1.5% at $97.09 and WTI up 1.8% at $92.60.
AFP reported fresh Iran strikes against US targets in the region, including attacks on US military bases in Kuwait.
The yen strengthened against the dollar amid renewed talk of Japanese intervention.
Investors were watching US non-farm payrolls due Friday and an inflation update due next week.
The Federal Reserve was reported as having flagged uncertainty linked to high energy prices and the Iran war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 September 2026 at 11:33:18 UTC.
Update
West Texas Intermediate fell 1.1% to $90.01 a barrel and Brent fell 1.2% to $94.45 at around 0715 GMT.
Asian markets turned mixed later in the session, with Tokyo and Hong Kong down and Shanghai flat at the close.
London and Frankfurt opened slightly higher while Paris was down.
The dollar fell to 157.18 yen from 158.89 yen on Wednesday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 September 2026 at 07:30:26 UTC.
Update
Most major Asian stock markets rose Thursday after Wall Street closed higher.
West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude edged lower around 0230 GMT.
Trump said he did not think the latest US bombing campaign against Iran would last too long.
CNN cited US officials as saying the military escorted 40 commercial ships carrying 18 million barrels of crude through the Strait of Hormuz.
The dollar traded at 158.40 yen around 0230 GMT, after the yen strengthened Wednesday amid speculation of intervention.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 September 2026 at 02:55:15 UTC.
Update
Wall Street's main indexes closed higher on Wednesday.
The Dow closed up 0.6%, the S&P 500 up 0.5% and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.5%.
US-listed Uber shares rose more than 1.5% after the company said it was laying off about 10% of its workforce.
The Federal Reserve said uncertainty linked to high energy prices and the Iran war was weighing on sentiment.
Canada's central bank kept its benchmark rate at 2.25% for a seventh straight time.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 20:45:57 UTC.
Update
Wall Street held gains around 1530 GMT even after bond yields and oil prices resumed rising.
The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were each up about 0.5% to 0.6% around 1530 GMT.
European markets closed lower, while Asian technology-heavy markets recorded larger falls.
Brent and WTI crude were both higher around 1530 GMT.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 16:00:19 UTC.
Update
Wall Street stocks were slightly higher about 15 minutes into trading.
ADP said US private-sector jobs grew by 38,000 in August.
Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal had predicted 47,000 private-sector jobs.
Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth said oil and rates markets would remain linked without a breakthrough on the Strait of Hormuz.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 13:55:25 UTC.
Update
Wall Street opened mixed, with the Dow up 0.4 percent, the S&P 500 slightly higher and the Nasdaq flat at around 1330 GMT.
Brent crude turned lower to $94.45 a barrel and the 10-year US government bond yield dipped before the New York open.
European markets remained lower but had trimmed earlier losses, while the yen gained more than one percent against the dollar.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 13:49:46 UTC.
Update
Brent crude was quoted at $95.03 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $90.33 around 1030 GMT.
European gas prices reached their highest level since the start of 2023.
Seoul closed 4.0 percent lower, while London, Paris and Frankfurt were down in morning trading.
The item adds analyst comments linking renewed US-Iran attacks, higher oil prices and investor concern.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 11:15:38 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The Federal Reserve's September 16 decision remains dependent on upcoming economic data.
Several market, currency and oil figures were intraday readings around 0810 GMT.
Source
AFP news report published on .