2025-02-11 16:02:04The FTSE MIB gained ground to close 0.9% firmer at 37,582 on Tuesday, hitting fresh December 2007 highs and outperforming its peers. Traders focused on Fed Chair Powell's comments ahead of tomorrow's US inflation data, while also keeping an eye on ongoing corporate earnings reports. Fed Chair Jerome Powell addressed Congress, noting that while the US economy remains strong and inflation is moving toward the 2% target, it is still high, with no urgency for rate cuts. Meanwhile, investors remained attentive to President Donald Trump’s next moves after he signed off on 25% tariffs for steel and aluminium imports, having warned of more measures to come. Ferrari (+3.4%) was the top performer, followed by Prysmian (+3.3%) and Azimut (+2.7%). Mediobanca rose 2.7% after reporting financial results that surpassed expectations. On the downside, Terna, Tenaris and Buzzi saw the biggest losses, each falling over 1%. Unicredit slid despite a Q4 profit beat after warning of slower revenues in 2025.
2025-02-11 15:21:04The three major averages in the US swung between small gains and losses on Tuesday, as Fed Chair Powell reaffirmed before Congress that the Fed is in no rush to cut interest rates. He reiterated the pledge from the last FOMC meeting in January, when the central bank paused its rate-cut cycle. Meanwhile, President Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports with no exceptions or exemptions. Shares of steel and aluminum producers rose, namely Cleveland-Cliffs (3.1%), US Steel Corp (1.2%), Nucor (2.5%) and Alcoa (1.6%). Megacaps were mixed, with Apple gaining 1.6% and Alphabet adding 0.2% while Microsoft (-0.4%) and Meta (-0.5%) booked losses and Nvidia and Amazon traded around the flatline. Tesla was down about 1.7%. Meanwhile, the earnings season continues with shares of Coca-Cola rising more than 4% after the company's sales topped estimates.
2025-02-11 15:18:03The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, was down for the second session on Tuesday, falling 8 points to 801 points. The capesize index, reflecting rates for large vessels transporting cargoes like iron ore and coal, decreased 31 points to its lowest since February 2023 at 779 points; and the panamax index, typically associated with ships carrying 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain, fell 17 points to 1,011 points. Meanwhile, the supramax index increased 16 points to an over three-week high of 710 points. "US tariffs on steel and aluminum are expected to have a small but negative direct impact on the Baltic dry index, mainly affecting panamax and handysize vessel segments," said Filipe Gouveia, shipping analysis manager at BIMCO.
2025-02-11 15:17:03The US dollar fell to 108.15, breaking a three-day rise, as markets reacted to US tariff threats and awaited key economic updates. Fed Chair Jerome Powell reaffirmed the central bank’s focus on controlling inflation, stating there’s no rush to cut rates since the economy remains strong with a solid job market. He warned that easing policy too quickly could stall inflation progress, while moving too slowly could hurt growth. Markets expect rates to stay unchanged until summer after three consecutive reductions in 2024 that totaled a full percentage point. Meanwhile, former President Trump pushed for higher tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other imports, aiming to balance trade and address foreign policy concerns like illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
2025-02-11 14:48:04The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.6% to below the 25,500 mark on Tuesday, pressured by declines in major mining equities and the financial sector, though gains in the energy sector helped limit the downturn. Agnico Eagle, Barrick Gold, Wheaton Precious, and Franco-Nevada each lost over 0.8% as gold prices retreated from record highs, while key financial institutions such as RBC, Brookfield, and Manulife declined between 0.7% and 1.7%. Additionally, e-commerce mega-cap Shopify dropped over 1% ahead of its fourth-quarter earnings report due later today. In contrast, energy producers including Suncor, Imperial Oil, and Cenovus added between 0.9% and 1.2%, tracking higher oil prices. Meanwhile, investor caution prevailed after U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to a flat 25% without exceptions, a measure designed to support domestic industries but one that risks sparking trade conflicts, with the new duties set to take effect on March.
2025-02-11 13:57:05The Ibovespa rose 0.6% to above the 126,000 level on Tuesday, extending the previous session gains as investors digested the latest inflation data. The annual inflation rate in Brazil eased to 4.56% in January 2025 from 4.83% in December, in line with market expectations and marking the lowest rate since September. However, it remained above the central bank’s upper tolerance band of 4.5%, reinforcing expectations of a rate hike in March, as signaled in December. Still, with inflation largely as expected, markets appear to be looking past immediate tightening. The financial sector traded firmly in the green, led by Itaúsa’s nearly 2% gain, while heavyweights Eletrobras, Companhia Sanea, Rede D'Or, and B3 also outperformed with gains of 1% to 1.8%. Meanwhile, iron ore giant Vale lost around 1% after Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to a flat 25% with no exceptions, aiming to support struggling industries but heightening trade war risks.