Pre-market Update, Thursday, April 30, 2009
Shrugging off a worse-than-expected GDP reading, the US markets on Wednesday saw stocks lead up to their best single-session gain in one week. Financial stocks led the charge and helped keep the broader market in the green for the entire session. The Dow closed 168.78 points higher (+2.11%) to end the day at 8,185.73. The index rose sharply as it opened, and then continued to consolidate its gains through the day. The NASDAQ closed 38.13 points higher (+2.28%) to finish at 1,711.94.
Almost all the Indian ADRs closed in the red on Wednesday. Tata Comm. (TCL) was the sole gainer, up 0.17% to close at $22.01. HDFC Bank (HDB) was the biggest loser, down 0.91%, closing at $73.82.
Significant gains in banking and pharmaceutical stocks ensured that the European markets closed on a high. The UK’s FTSE closed 93.19 points up (+2.27%), ending at 4,190. Germany’s DAX closed 97.14 points higher (+2.11%), ending trading at 4,705.
As of 10:15 am IST, Asian markets were seeing significant gains. Japan’s Nikkei is currently trading 289.16 points higher, up 3.40%, while the Hang Seng is currently up 347.69 points (+2.32%).
WTI Brent crude oil closed at $51.35 per barrel, up $0.38 (+0.75%). Nymex light crude June futures closed at $51.37, up $0.40 (+0.78%). June COMEX gold futures closed at $895.00 per ounce, down $5.50 (-0.61%).
As of 10:20 am IST, the Yen (¥) rose against the USD, by ¥0.29 to ¥97.25. The Euro (€) fell €0.0001 to €0.7534 against the dollar. The Pound (£) rose by £0.0007 to £0.6758 against the dollar.
The rupee rose on Wednesday by Rs. 0.47 to close at Rs 50.04/05 against the greenback.
Tags: Asian Equities, Comex Gold, Commodities, Currencies, DAX, DJIA, Dow, Euro, European equities, FTSE, Hang Seng, International Markets, NASDAQ, Nikkei, Nymex Crude, NYSE, Pre-market summary, Rupee, Rupee/USD, US equities, USD, USD/Euro, USD/JPY, WTI Brent Crude, Yen
