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Oil prices fell and stocks were mixed on Thursday in thin holiday trading, following weak US economic data that added to growth concerns. Several markets were shut in Europe and Asia for the May 1 holiday, including in France, Germany, Hong Kong and mainland China.Among markets that were open, London was flat, while Tokyo climbed over one percent after Japan’s central bank kept its key interest rate steady and warned of trade uncertainty.Oil plunged under $60 per barrel, weighed down by disappointing economic data from the US on Wednesday and on expectations that OPEC+ will increase production more than expected in June.Lower oil prices impacted energy giants BP and Shell, with their shares falling three percent and two percent respectively on London’s FTSE 100 index.”Oil prices are at lows not seen since the pandemic, as concerns about the trade hit to global growth keep swirling,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. “As economies are expected to slow, demand for energy is set to follow suit,” she added.Tokyo’s main Nikkei 225 index closed 1.1 percent higher after the central bank’s decision to hold rates caused the yen to fall against the dollar, boosting Japanese exporters.The Bank of Japan warned that trade tariffs are fuelling global economic uncertainty and revised down its growth forecasts for the world’s fourth-largest economy.US President Donald Trump has imposed hefty levies on trading partners and imports including steel, aluminium and autos to rectify what he says are unfair trade imbalances.Markets are looking ahead to Friday’s US jobs data for April for indications of the Federal Reserve’s path for interest rates.”All that matters for the Fed is the jobs market so we head into a big risk event with tomorrow’s payrolls report,” said Neil Wilson, UK investor strategist at Saxo Markets.Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower on Wednesday after US government data showed the economy shrank by an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter, amplifying recession worries.But they moved gradually higher through the day, rising after mid-morning data showed personal spending in March topped estimates.As more companies pull back from earnings forecasts in the face of the uncertainty regarding US tariffs, tech giants Meta and Microsoft reported quarterly profits that were above expectations on Wednesday.Shares in Meta — which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — rose more than four percent in after-market trades.Investors are now awaiting earnings from US giants Amazon and Apple later in the day for further signals of the impact of tariffs on businesses.- Key figures at around 1100 GMT -London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 8,497.13 pointsParis – CAC 40: closed for holidayFrankfurt – DAX: closed for holidayTokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 36,241.70 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: closed for holidayShanghai – Composite: closed for holidayNew York – Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 40,669.36 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1333 from $1.1342 on WednesdayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3338 from $1.3328Dollar/yen: UP at 144.29 yen from 143.18 yenEuro/pound: FLAT at 84.97 pence from 84.97 penceWest Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.0 percent at $56.45 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 2.8 percent at $59.38 per barrelburs-ajb/yad

The Bank of Japan revised down its growth forecasts and held interest rates steady on Thursday, warning that trade tariffs are fuelling global economic uncertainty.Kazuo Ueda, the central bank’s governor, said it was difficult to assess the impact of the sweeping levies imposed by US President Donald Trump and retaliatory measures by affected nations.”The level of uncertainty will be significant,” Ueda warned.”Even when the overall framework of the tariffs is decided, it will still be the implementation of tariffs of an unprecedented scale.” Trump’s hardball campaign to rectify what he says are unfair trade imbalances include tariffs on trading partners and imports including steel and automobiles.The BoJ said it now expects Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP) to rise 0.5 percent in fiscal 2025, which started in April — down from its previous estimate of 1.1 percent.In fiscal 2026 it expects GDP in the world’s fourth largest economy to expand 0.7 percent, down from 1.0 percent previously forecast.”Japan’s economic growth is likely to moderate as trade and other policies in each jurisdiction lead to a slowdown in overseas economies and to a decline in domestic corporate profits and other factors,” the bank said.However “factors such as accommodative financial conditions are expected to provide support” and “thereafter, Japan’s economic growth rate is likely to rise”.- Market fragility -The BoJ’s decision to stand pat on interest rates — holding them at around 0.5 percent — following a two-day policy meeting had been widely expected.Bank officials began lifting borrowing costs last year after nearly two decades of ultra-loose monetary policies aimed at kick-starting torpid economic growth in Japan.Its key rate is still much lower than the US Federal Reserve’s 4.25-4.5 percent and the Bank of England’s 4.5 percent.Masamichi Adachi and Go Kurihara of UBS said ahead of the BoJ policy meeting that “market fragility and uncertainty in the global economy due to the US tariff/trade policies” would lead the BOJ to hold rates.Analysts including Marcel Thieliant from Capital Economics said interest rate increases could still be on the table later this year.”We believe that the trade war won’t be as damaging as feared and we’re sticking to our forecast of another rate hike in July,” Thieliant said.Japanese tariff talks envoy Ryosei Akazawa will hold a second round of negotiations later Thursday in Washington, seeking to secure relief from the trade levies.”Fruitful negotiations between Washington and Tokyo to mitigate the impact of tariffs on exporters may help Japanese policy makers in hiking interest rates,” Katsutoshi Inadome at SuMi TRUST said.

Japanese stocks rose Thursday as the central bank kept its key interest rates steady as expected, in thin trade with most Asian markets shut for the May 1 holiday.Tokyo’s main Nikkei 225 index closed 1.1 percent higher after the bank’s decision caused the yen to fall against the dollar, boosting Japanese exporters.Several markets were shut in Asia for holidays on Thursday, including in Hong Kong and mainland China.Among open indexes, Sydney edged up 0.2 percent while New Zealand jumped two percent.The Bank of Japan warned that trade tariffs are fuelling global economic uncertainty and revised down its growth forecasts for the world’s fourth-largest economy.US President Donald Trump has imposed hefty levies on trading partners and imports including steel and automobiles to rectify what he says are unfair trade imbalances.”Heightened uncertainties regarding policies including tariffs are likely to have a large impact on business and household sentiment around the world and on the global financial and capital markets,” the BoJ said.Its policy decision sent the yen lower, with one dollar buying 144.41 yen compared to 143.13 yen Thursday morning.”On the back of the US rally on Wednesday and strong earnings results from Microsoft and other US companies, major AI-related stocks including Advantest were bought across the board,” IwaiCosmo Securities said.”In the afternoon, the yen weakened… following the downward revision of the Bank of Japan’s Outlook Report and other factors, which led to a broadening of the rally.”Markets are looking ahead to Friday’s US jobs data for April, which will be the first tangible reading of economic conditions after the Trump administration’s sweeping April 2 tariffs — many of which have been suspended. Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower on Wednesday after US government data showed the economy shrank by an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter, amplifying recession worries.But they moved gradually higher through the day, rising after mid-morning data showed personal spending in March topped estimates.As more companies pull back from earnings forecasts in the face of the uncertainty regarding US tariffs, tech giants Meta and Microsoft reported quarterly profits that were above expectations.Shares in Meta — which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — rose more than four percent in after-market trades.”Strong earnings reports from US IT companies are expected to drive gains, led by the electronics sector,” strategist Takashi Ito of Nomura Securities told Bloomberg.- Key figures at around 0800 GMT -Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 36,241.70 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: closed for holidayShanghai – Composite: closed for holidayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1323 from $1.1342 on WednesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3314 from $1.3328Dollar/yen: UP at 144.32 yen from 143.18 yenEuro/pound: UP at at 85.01 pence from 84.97 penceWest Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.2 percent at $57.50 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.02 percent at $60.44 per barrelNew York – Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 40,669.36 (close)London – FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,494.85 (close)

United States officials have reached out to their Chinese counterparts for talks on vast tariffs that have hammered markets and global supply chains, a Beijing-backed outlet said on Thursday citing sources.Punishing US tariffs that have reached 145 percent on many Chinese products came into force in April, while Beijing has responded with fresh 125 percent duties on imports from the United States.And on Thursday Yuyuan Tantian, a Chinese outlet linked to state broadcaster CCTV, said citing sources that Washington was “proactively” reaching out to China via “multiple channels” for talks on the tariffs.”From a negotiation standpoint the US is currently the more anxious party,” the outlet, which blends analysis with news reporting, said on the X-like platform Weibo.”The Trump administration is facing multiple pressures,” it added.AFP has reached out to China’s foreign ministry for comment.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that China has reached out for talks on the tariffs.And on Wednesday Trump reiterated there was a “very good chance we’re going to make a deal”.”But we’re going to make it on our terms and it’s got to be fair,” he told a NewsNation “town hall”.Beijing has vehemently denied any talks are taking place while repeatedly urging the United States to engage in dialogue in a “fair, respectful and reciprocal” manner.But it has also said it will fight a trade war to the bitter end if needed, with a video posted on social media this week by its foreign ministry vowing to “never kneel down!”

Rich in solar and wind power, and bulging in critical minerals for renewable energy technology, Australia touts itself as a leader in the race to net zero carbon emissions. But a political battle is being waged ahead of Saturday’s elections over whether to change Australia’s trajectory and add nuclear reactors to the mix for the first time.The row is reminiscent of the “climate wars” — a years-long political face-off over the need to slash carbon emissions — that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to end when he took power three years ago.Australia sits on some of the world’s largest uranium reserves but it has legally banned nuclear power generation for a quarter of a century.In the run-up to Saturday’s vote, conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton announced a US$200 billion plan to build seven large-scale nuclear reactors by 2050.His proposal would ramp up gas production, slow the rollout of solar and wind projects, and ditch the clean energy goals set by Albanese’s centre-left government.Dutton says nuclear power would be cheaper and more reliable than renewable energy.”I haven’t committed to nuclear energy for votes. I committed to it because it’s in the best interest of our country,” he said in a televised leaders’ debate.Interest in nuclear power is growing internationally as nations struggle to cut their dependence on fossil fuels. Thirty-one countries including the United States, France and Britain have signed up to a pledge to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050.- Slow, costly -Australia is a fossil fuel powerhouse with vast reserves of coal and gas but it is also drenched in sun, with a broad landscape to accommodate wind turbines and solar panels.The national science agency CSIRO estimates that the nuclear option would be 50 percent more expensive for Australia than renewable energy and take at least 15 years to become operational.”The total development lead time needed for nuclear means it cannot play a major role in electricity sector emission abatement,” it said.Even countries with decades of experience in nuclear power generation struggle to get plants running on time and on budget.France started its latest reactor Flamanville 3 in December — 12 years behind schedule and about 10 billion euros (US$11 billion) beyond its original three-billion-euro budget.Albanese has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, pouring public money into the renewable sector.The share of renewable energy in Australia’s electricity generation has increased to record highs in recent years, contributing 35 percent in 2023, government data shows.- ‘Dislocation and rupture’ -The energy industry has largely backed a renewables-first pathway as ageing coal-fired plants are retired.”We are in a position now where coal-fired power stations are closing — and they have done a great job for a long time. But they are old and need to be replaced by something,” said Clean Energy Council spokesperson Chris O’Keefe. “The best economic response for Australia right now is to continue on the path we are on. That is, building batteries, solar farms, wind farms,” he told AFP.”What we are seeing is a situation where nuclear energy is being used as an idea to placate the fossil fuel industry and the people they have been traditionally aligned with, but the problem is it will not deliver a single electron for close to two decades,” he said.Dave Sweeney, nuclear power analyst at the Australian Conservation Foundation, said switching the energy strategy now would cause “economic dislocation and rupture”. “Why change horses from renewables when you are halfway there?” Sweeney said. “This is a 1950s piece of policy that is promoting a 1950s sense of technology.”- ‘Outdated prohibitions’ -If Dutton’s conservative coalition wins the election there would be strong community, local government and stakeholder pushback to nuclear reactors being built, Sweeney predicted.”It would cause uncertainty, contest, fights and a lack of action around secure and clean energy. We would be back to hostile and conflict-fuelled and unproductive climate and energy wars,” Sweeney said.Still, nuclear supporters say the spotlight on the issue is long overdue. “Our decades-old nuclear ban no longer reflects the realities of modern reactor technology or the shifting attitudes of Australians,” said Kirsty Braybon, a university academic and nuclear law expert at the Nuclear for Australia lobby group. While other countries were moving ahead with nuclear, Australia was “held back by outdated prohibitions that stifle innovation, jobs and the chance to power a cleaner future”, she said.

The Bank of Japan on Thursday left its key interest rate unchanged but revised down its growth forecasts, warning that US trade tariffs are fuelling economic uncertainty.”The introduction of wide-ranging tariffs is expected to impact global trade activity,” the central bank said.”Heightened uncertainties regarding policies including tariffs are likely to have a large impact on business and household sentiment around the world and on the global financial and capital markets.”Since coming to office in January, US President Donald Trump has embarked on a hardball campaign to rectify what he says are unfair trade imbalances.His administration has imposed hefty levies on multiple trading partners and imports including steel and automobiles.The BoJ said Thursday it now expects Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP) to rise 0.5 percent in fiscal 2025 — down from its previous estimate of 1.1 percent.In fiscal 2026, it expects GDP in the world’s fourth largest economy to expand 0.7 percent, down from 1.0 percent previously forecast.”Japan’s economic growth is likely to moderate, as trade and other policies in each jurisdiction lead to a slowdown in overseas economies and to a decline in domestic corporate profits and other factors,” the bank added.However for growth “factors such as accommodative financial conditions are expected to provide support” and “thereafter, Japan’s economic growth rate is likely to rise”, it said.– Market fragility –The BoJ’s decision to stand pat on interest rates — holding them at around 0.5 percent — following a two-day policy meeting had been widely expected.Bank officials began lifting borrowing costs last year after nearly two decades of ultra-loose monetary policies aimed at kickstarting torpid economic growth in Japan.Masamichi Adachi and Go Kurihara of UBS said ahead of the BoJ policy meeting that “market fragility and uncertainty in the global economy due to the US tariff/trade policies” would lead the BOJ to hold rates.Japanese tariff talks envoy Ryosei Akazawa will hold a second round of negotiations later Thursday in Washington, seeking to secure relief from the trade levies.”We still believe there will be an interest hike later this year,” Katsutoshi Inadome, Senior Strategist at SuMi TRUST, said before the BoJ’s decision.”Fruitful negotiations between Washington and Tokyo to mitigate the impact of tariffs on exporters may help Japanese policy makers in hiking interest rates,” he said.

Global stocks rose for the most part Wednesday, digesting mixed economic data as more companies pull back from earnings forecasts amid uncertainty over US President Donald Trump’s fast-changing trade policy.Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower after government data showed the US economy shrank by an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter, amplifying worries about a recession. But US equity markets moved gradually higher throughout the day, rising after mid-morning data showed personal spending in March topped estimates. The same report also showed benign inflation data.Both the Dow and S&P 500 finished higher.”The stock market initially gave back some of its recent gains today,” said a summary of the session from Briefing.com. “The rebound mentality was still present, however, leading major equity indices to close well off session lows.”European stocks had broadly advanced earlier following data that showed the eurozone economy expanded more than expected in the first quarter, despite the uncertainty over tariffs.The EU’s official data agency said the 20-country single currency area recorded growth of 0.4 percent over the January-March period from the previous quarter, better-than-expected data that appears to be linked to advance purchases in the United States, before Trump’s tariffs came into effect. But shares in German auto giants Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz slumped after they reported big drops in the first-quarter net profit.Mercedes-Benz and US-European auto giant Stellantis also suspended their annual financial guidance due to uncertainty over Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on car imports.”Most companies are pulling guidance,” said Jack Ablin of Cresset Capital. “They can’t navigate an economy where they don’t know the rules.”In Asia, data on Wednesday showed that tit-for-tat tariffs between the United States and China began to bite in April, as Chinese manufacturing activity contracted at its fastest pace since July 2023.That came after Chinese exports soared more than 12 percent last month as businesses rushed to get ahead of the swinging tariffs.”Tariffs are a lose-lose proposition, and the PMI data is our first official look at how it’s affecting China. Our take is that there’s a clear negative shock taking place,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING.Hong Kong’s stock market advanced, but Shanghai slipped.Markets are looking ahead to Friday’s US jobs data for April, which will be the first tangible reading of economic conditions after Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs, much of which has been suspended. Ablin said Friday’s jobs data for April will be “one of the most important jobs reports we’ve seen for a while” in light of uncertainty about the economy.- Key figures at 2030 GMT -New York – Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 40,669.36 (close)New York – S&P 500: UP 0.2 percent at 5,569.06 (close)New York – Nasdaq DOWN 0.1 percent at 17,446.34 (close)London – FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,494.85 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 7,593.87 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 22,496.98 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 36,045.38 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.5 percent at 22,119.41 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,279.03 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1342 from $1.1387 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3328 from $1.3409 Dollar/yen: UP at 143.18 yen from 142.33 yenEuro/pound: UP at 84.97 pence from 84.92 penceWest Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.7 percent at $58.21 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.8 percent at $63.12 per barrel

Stocks slid on Wall Street on Wednesday, pulling European indexes off earlier highs after the US economy contracted in the first quarter, heightening fears about the fallout of President Donald Trump’s tariffs blitz on the world’s largest economy.Instead of increasing slightly as analysts expected, US GDP fell 0.3 percent — a stark reversal from the 2.4 percent growth seen in the fourth quarter of last year.In particular, consumer spending slowed to 1.8 percent, while a later report by the Commerce Department showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose 2.3 percent in March, down from 2.7 percent in February but still slightly higher than most analysts expected.”This puts the Fed in an uncomfortable position: Inflation risks are rising even as growth slows” — a perfect recipe for “stagflation”, said Christopher Boucher, investment director at ABN AMRO Investment Solutions.”This uncertainty is likely to weigh on consumer spending, which has supported the American economy up to now,” he said.The report also bodes ill for US labour market data on Friday, which could reveal a larger-than-expected slowdown in hiring as firms brace for tariff turmoil.”Although the precise extent to which tariffs will dampen growth remains unclear, the prevailing view is that the trajectory will be downward rather than upward,” said Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.European stocks had broadly advanced earlier following data that showed the eurozone economy expanded more than expected in the first quarter, despite the uncertainty over tariffs.But shares in German auto giants Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz slumped after they reported big drops in the first-quarter net profit.Mercedes-Benz and US-European auto giant Stellantis also suspended their annual financial guidance due to uncertainty over Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on car imports, though the US leader softened the levies on Tuesday.In Asia, data on Wednesday showed that tit-for-tat tariffs between the United States and China began to bite in April, as Chinese manufacturing activity contracted at its fastest pace since July 2023.That came after Chinese exports soared more than 12 percent last month as businesses rushed to get ahead of the swingeing tariffs.”Tariffs are a lose-lose proposition, and the PMI data is our first official look at how it’s affecting China. Our take is that there’s a clear negative shock taking place,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING.Hong Kong’s stock market advanced, but Shanghai slipped.Tokyo rose, boosted by a 7.1 percent surge in Sony fuelled by a report that it is considering spinning off its chip unit — a move investors hope will unlock value in the Japanese entertainment and electronics company.Equities had clawed back much of the losses suffered in early April as Trump has shown more flexibility on some issues and as governments hold talks with Washington.US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he had reached a deal with a country but did not name it, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said progress had been made with India, South Korea and Japan. Oil prices extended losses on concerns that the trade war will slow growth and reduce demand, and as traders expect a stronger increase in oil production by OPEC+.- Key figures at 1540 GMT -New York – Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 40,279.72 pointsNew York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.9 percent at 5,510.05New York – Nasdaq DOWN 1.4 percent at 17,224.20London – FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,494.85 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 7,593.87 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 22,496.98 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 36,045.38 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.5 percent at 22,119.41 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,279.03 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1342 from $1.1390 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3338 from $1.3399 Dollar/yen: UP at 142.82 yen from 142.22 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 85.00 pence from 85.08 penceWest Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $59.91 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.0 percent at $62.62 per barrel

Stock markets mostly rose Wednesday ahead of key US economic and earnings reports that could offer fresh insights into the health of the world’s largest economy amid Donald Trump’s tariffs.Investors are awaiting the release of closely watched US inflation and economic growth data due later in the day, along with results from tech titans Microsoft and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.”Earnings reports and recession risks are chunky issues for investors to deal with,” Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB.”Market sentiment is quick to change direction in the current climate, so expect Wednesday’s key economic and corporate releases to have a big impact on markets,” she added.Most European stocks advanced following data that showed the eurozone economy expanded more than expected in the first-quarter, despite uncertainty over tariffs.Paris and Frankfurt both climbed 0.6 percent as data showed the French economy returned to growth and the German economy grew fast than expected at the start of the year. Shares in German auto giants Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz fell after they reported big drops in the first-quarter net profit.Mercedes-Benz and US-European auto giant Stellantis also suspended their annual financial guidances due to uncertainty over Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on car imports, though the US leader on Tuesday softened the levies.London made more modest gains, held back by losses in oil and mining stocks amid concerns over weaker Chinese demand. Data on Wednesday showed that tit-for-tat tariffs between the United States and China began to bite in April, as Chinese manufacturing activity contracted at its fastest pace since July 2023.That came after Chinese exports soared more than 12 percent last month as businesses rushed to get ahead of the swingeing tariffs.”Tariffs are a lose-lose proposition, and the PMI data is our first official look at how it’s affecting China. Our take is that there’s a clear negative shock taking place,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING.Hong Kong’s stock market advanced, but Shanghai slipped.Tokyo rose, boosted by a 7.1 percent surge in Sony fuelled by a report that it is considering spinning off its chip unit — a move investors hope will unlock value in the Japanese entertainment and electronics company.Equities have clawed back a lot of the huge losses suffered at the start of the month as Trump has shown a little more flexibility on some issues and as governments hold talks with Washington.US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he had reached a deal with a country but did not name it, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said progress had been made with India, South Korea and Japan. Oil prices extended losses on concerns that the trade war will slow growth and reduce demand, and as traders expect a stronger increase in oil production by OPEC+.- Key figures at 1045 GMT -London – FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,476.28 points Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.6 percent at 7,598.46Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.6 percent at 22,552.08Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 36,045.38 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.5 percent at 22,119.41 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,279.03 (close)New York – Dow: UP 0.8 percent at 40,527.62 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1364 from $1.1390 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3360 from $1.3399 Dollar/yen: UP at 143.03 yen from 142.22 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 85.06 pence from 85.08 penceWest Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.0 percent at $59.84 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.0 percent at $62.71 per barrel