OPENING CALL: The Australian share market is expected to open lower. The SPI futures contract expected to open lower 78 points.
Amazon.com Inc. is launching a $2 billion internal venture-capital fund focused on technology investments to reduce the impact of climate change, the latest sustainability initiative from the technology giant after criticism of its environmental record.
A composite index produced by data firm IHS Markit pointed to a more gradual decline in business activity in the U.S., suggesting a possible rebound in the coming months. The firm’s U.S. purchasing managers index for manufacturing was 49.6 and its services index was 46.7 in June, in both cases the highest reading in four months. The composite index on the month was 46.8, also the highest in four months.
Australian Market
US Market
U.S. stocks rose as improving economic signals in the U.S. and overseas added to optimism for recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown. The S&P 500 gained 0.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.5%. The tech-heavy
Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7%, boosted by gains in Apple and Amazon shares.
Commodities
Gold futures marked their highest settlement in more than seven years as low interest rates, U.S.-China tension, and a weakening U.S. dollar provided a runway higher for bullion. On Comex, August gold added $15.60, or 0.8%, to settle at $1,782 an ounce, after rising 0.8% on Monday.
Oil Futures
Crude-oil prices finished lower. West Texas Intermediate futures fell 0.9% to $40.37 a barrel, but are still up about 20% in the past month. Brent-crude futures, the benchmark in international energy markets, ended the day down 1% at $42.63 a barrel. That is more than double their closing low of $19.33 on April 21.
Forex
European Markets
Asian Markets
Earlier in the day in Asia, Japanese stocks ended higher, led by gains for auto stocks, after gyrating on remarks on U.S.-China trade relations. The Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.5% to 22549.05. Mainland Chinese stocks ended higher. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index inched up 0.2% to settle at 2970.62.
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