World markets today: US stocks muted ahead of Fed decision
ALSO READ: Wall Street week ahead: Investors’ major focus on Fed rate decision, big tech earnings The US central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but investors and traders will look for signals from the Fed meeting outcome and chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference whether the central bank will start cutting interest rates at its next monetary policy meet in March. On Friday, the S&P 500 slipped 3.19 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 4,890.97. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 60.30, or 0.2 per cent, to 38,109.43.
The Nasdaq Composite lost 55.13, or 0.4 per cent, to 15,455.36. European stocks were mixed on Monday. The STOXX 600 index briefly touched a fresh two-year high and was last flat on the day.
Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.1 per cent at 7,645.63 points. France’s CAC 40 was flat at 7,634.86. Germany’s DAX lost 0.5 per cent at 16,883.56.
In Asian stock markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.8 per cent at 16,077.24. China's Shanghai Composite lost 0.9 per cent at 2,883.36. Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.8 per cent at 36,026.94.
Oil prices rose on Monday after a drone attack on US forces in Jordan added to supply disruption concerns in the Middle East. Brent crude futures gained 21 cents to $83.76 a barrel by 1117 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures edged up by 21 cents to $78.22. Gold prices strengthened on Monday on growing concerns over the Middle East tensions.
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