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Markets Update: U.S. stocks show mixed performance due to retail data and uncertainty in Fed policy. European stocks climb following Germany’s debt reform and economic optimism. Oil reaches two-week highs amid the Yemen conflict and positive data from China.
Global Markets Roundup: 17 March 2025
Wall Street struggled to maintain momentum on Monday as mixed U.S. retail data and geopolitical tensions kept investors cautious, while European stocks extended their rally, fueled by Germany’s debt reform and increased confidence in economic recovery.
Wall Street Wobbles, Retail Data Shows Consumer Resilience
U.S. stocks saw choppy trading as investors assessed the impact of weaker-than-expected retail sales, which was largely attributed to cheaper gasoline prices. However, a strong rebound in online spending and better-than-expected core retail sales pointed to underlying consumer strength.
Despite the cautious optimism, markets remained on edge ahead of Federal Reserve policy meetings this week, with central banks expected to assess the impact of Trump’s ongoing tariff war.
U.S. stock indexes were mixed:
Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 187.85 points (0.45%) to 41,676.04
S&P 500 gained 16.08 points (0.27%) to 5,654.28
Nasdaq Composite fell 30.56 points (0.17%) to 17,723.53
European Stocks Rally on German Debt Reform
European stocks continued to outperform global markets, with Germany’s debt reform deal lifting sentiment. Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz secured backing from the Greens for increased state borrowing, signaling stronger government spending to boost growth.
Pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.74%
FTSEurofirst 300 gained 0.76%
Bond Markets Signal Economic Uncertainty
U.S. Treasury yields moved mixed as the yield curve flattened, reflecting worries about economic slowdown while the Fed maintains its restrictive policy stance.
10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 1.9 basis points to 4.289%
30-year bond yield declined 3.1 basis points to 4.584%
2-year yield, which tracks Fed expectations, rose 1.6 basis points to 4.032%
Dollar Dips as Trade Uncertainty Lingers
The U.S. dollar hovered near a five-month low, weighed down by uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade policies.
Oil Prices Rise on Yemen Tensions, China Data
Crude oil prices climbed for a second straight session, driven by:
U.S. military strikes on Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen, raising supply disruption concerns
Encouraging Chinese economic data, supporting demand outlook
U.S. crude rose 0.86% to $67.76 per barrel
Brent crude climbed 0.85% to $71.18 per barrel
Gold Holds Near Record Highs as Fed Decision Looms
Gold edged higher but remained below the $3,000 mark, as investors awaited this week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting for clues on potential rate cuts.
Spot gold rose 0.44% to $2,997.67 per ounce
U.S. gold futures gained 0.23% to $3,001.50 per ounce
Looking forward refer to the economic calendar below to see the upcoming events scheduled for today and the rest of the week.
General news - Information source from multiple newswires.
The article and the data is for general information use only, not advice!
The Trade Academy Team