Market Recap I 07-Mar-2024

Gold prices reached a record high in Asian trading due to hints from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell about potential rate cuts in 2024. However, Powell emphasized that rate cuts would only occur once there is convincing evidence that inflation is nearing the 2% target.

Japan’s Nikkei slid 1.4% after hitting a fresh all-time high, while the yen strengthened by 0.5% to 148.61 per dollar, the highest in a month, as momentum builds that a move from the Bank of Japan to end negative interest rates could come as early as this month.

Markets exhibited caution ahead of the European Central Bank meeting later today, Thursday.