The British pound was stable against the U.S. dollar on Monday, as the American currency gained strength on expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve, despite recent weak jobs data. Investors are looking ahead to the release of the Fed's latest meeting minutes on Wednesday.
South Korea has extended trading hours for the won-dollar market to operate nearly 24 hours a day. The reform is a major step in the country's effort to improve foreign investor access and secure an upgrade to developed-market status in global equity indexes.
The U.S. dollar held steady on Monday, following its largest single-day drop since late April, as investors await further signals on monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. The Japanese yen remained near a 40-year low, raising concerns about potential government intervention.
The Bank of Israel has reduced its benchmark interest rate for the second consecutive time, bringing it down to 3.50% in a move to address the persistent strength of the national currency, the shekel. The decision, which was widely anticipated, brings borrowing costs to their lowest level since late 2022.
The British pound traded near its strongest level since mid-June on Tuesday, as the U.S. dollar remained in a narrow range ahead of the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes.
The U.S. dollar gained on Tuesday as investors sought safe-haven assets following reports of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf. The incidents have led to increased geopolitical tensions and a U.S. response against Iran.
The South African rand strengthened on Thursday, gaining against a weaker U.S. dollar. The dollar's decline followed the release of U.S. employment figures that fell short of economists' expectations.
Government bond yields in the Eurozone and globally rose on Wednesday, driven by a spike in oil prices after the U.S. hardened its stance on an Iran peace deal. Investors are also cautiously awaiting minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve for clues on future interest rate policy.
Chinese AI firm Zhipu, trading as Knowledge Atlas Technology, is seeking to raise approximately $4 billion in a new share offering. The move follows a nearly 1,500% increase in its stock value since its Hong Kong listing in January.
