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Fluctuations in American stock markets
American stock markets started the day slightly fluctuating, reflecting investor uncertainty after recent hikes. Yesterday, the S&P 500 reached a closing record, but today the focus is shifting to a series of solid quarterly results and enthusiasm for technology stocks, especially those related to artificial intelligence. At the opening, the Dow Jones registered a slight increase of 7.98 points, equal to an increase of 0.02%, while the S&P 500 showed a decrease of 10.52 points, corresponding to a decrease of 0.17%.
The Nasdaq, on the other hand, suffered a more marked loss, falling by 107.89 points, or -0.54%
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Commodity market and unemployment benefits
In the commodities market, WTI oil at Nymex registered a slight increase of 0.08%, to 75.50 dollars per barrel. However, another significant fact emerged from the week that ended January 18, when there was an increase in claims for unemployment benefits in the United States. According to the Department of Labor, requests increased by 6,000 units, reaching 223,000, exceeding expectations by 221,000. This increase is particularly significant considering that during the pandemic, requests had reached a peak of 6.9 million
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Monetary policy and investments in Italy
In a global context, the Central Bank of Turkey decided to lower the reference rate from 47.5% to 45%. This move is part of a restrictive monetary policy strategy, aimed at achieving price stability through a sustained reduction in inflation. The bank has stated that the rate will be adjusted to support the disinflation path, taking into account inflationary trends. In the meantime, Lidl Italia announced the opening of 9 new stores and the creation of 160 jobs, with an investment of more than 70 million euros. The goal is to reach 1,000 stores by 2030, continuing to exceed the average growth rate of the main retail companies
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Asian stock market trends
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange closed down 0.4%, influenced by Wall Street futures, while the Chinese mainland stock exchanges showed mixed trends. In Shanghai, the composite index rose 0.5%, while Shenzhen lost 0.4%. Beijing’s drive to support markets has positively influenced financial securities, but fears related to US tariffs and the Chinese economy have held back purchases. These dynamics highlight the complexity of the global economic landscape and the importance of constantly monitoring market fluctuations
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