Current situation on Wall Street
Right now, the atmosphere on Wall Street is marked by a palpable expectation. Investors are eagerly awaiting the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, which will be announced at 20 Italian time. Expectations are high and the common prediction is that the United States Central Bank may proceed with a further rate cut, the third in a row, with a reduction of 25 basis points. This would follow an initial drop of half a percentage point, which has already affected
the market.
Trend of the main indices
At the opening of the markets, the Dow Jones registered an increase of 47.47 points, corresponding to an increase of 0.11%. However, the S&P 500 fell slightly by 1.99 points, equivalent to a decrease of 0.03%. On the other hand, the Nasdaq gained 10.77 points, marking an increase of 0.05%. These movements indicate a certain volatility, typical in periods of waiting for significant economic decisions
.
Oil price and other economic news
Meanwhile, the price of WTI oil at Nymex showed an increase of 0.93%, reaching $70.73 per barrel. This increase in the price of oil adds another element of interest to investors, who are closely monitoring the dynamics of the energy market. In addition, news of collaborations between airlines, such as the codeshare agreement between Ita Airways and Icelandair, are improving connectivity between Rome and Reykjavik,
offering more travel opportunities to customers.
Business strategies and acquisitions
In a context of growing interest among Italian institutional investors, Accenture announced its intention to acquire the IQT Group, a provider of engineering and management services for large infrastructure projects. This acquisition represents a strategic step for Accenture, combining digital skills and know-how in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence with the IQT Group’s experience in planning and managing infrastructure projects. This synergy could lead to significant innovations in the sector
.
Mortgage applications in the United States
Finally, mortgage applications in the United States showed a decline, with a decline of 0.7% in the week ending December 13. This decrease follows a previous increase of 5.4%. Refinance requests fell by 2.6%, while new applications registered an increase of 1.4%. Currently, 30-year mortgage rates have risen to 6.75%, a figure that could further influence investor and consumer decisions
in the real estate market.