global financial markets experienced notable volatility following a historic decision by the Federal Reserve to enact its first 25-basis-point interest rate hike (to a range of 3.75%-4.00%) in three years to curb persistent inflation. Wall Street tumbled into the close as Fed Chair remarks signaled hawkish commitment, while the 10-year US Treasury yield hovered near 5%. European equities closed mostly lower, while Asian markets showed modest early gains prior to the policy announcement. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and delays in establishing a Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor kept Brent crude oil elevated near $109/barrel, while gold held above $4,300/oz. Cryptocurrencies plunged sharply as both macro tightening concerns and the procedural failure of the US Senate CLARITY Act weighed heavily on digital assets.
Global Asset Classes Overview
- Global Stock Markets: Major indices globally closed under pressure; US indices slid into negative territory following the FOMC announcement, while European markets tracked broader macroeconomic caution.
- Global Bond Markets: US 10-Year Treasury yield hit a fresh peak of 5.04% before settling near 4.99%. Short-dated short-yields adjusted upward as the market fully priced in the 25-basis-point interest rate hike.
- Global Oil: Brent Crude open: $108.20 | close: $109.15 per barrel. Driven by Middle East geopolitical risks and Strait of Hormuz delays.
- Global Gold: Spot Gold open: $4,285.00 | close: $4,308.50 per ounce. Safe-haven demand offset rising real yields.
- Global Silver: Spot Silver open: $31.40 | close: $31.85 per ounce.
- Global Crypto Market: Bitcoin (BTC) open: $75,586.51 | close: $75,730.00; Ethereum (ETH) open: $2,397.64 | close: $2,400.00. Plummeted following the Senate failure to pass the CLARITY Act and the Fed rate increase.
Americas
- DJIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average): Open: 52,093.11 | Close: 51,461.90
- S&P 500: Open: 7,585.73 | Close: 7,551.81
- NASDAQ Composite: Open: 25,981.57 | Close: 25,978.42
- Russell 2000: Open: 2,870.28 | Close: 2,858.81
- NYSE Composite: Open: 20,410.15 | Close: 20,295.40
- S&P/TSX Composite (Canada): Open: 24,110.05 | Close: 24,021.80
- S&P/BMV IPC (Mexico): Open: 53,200.40 | Close: 52,890.10
- Bovespa / Ibovespa (Brazil): Open: 134,800.00 | Close: 133,950.25
- S&P Merval (Argentina): Open: 1,810,200.00 | Close: 1,795,400.00
- S&P IPSA (Chile): Open: 6,420.10 | Close: 6,380.50
Europe
- DAX (Germany): Open: 18,620.50 | Close: 18,540.30
- FTSE 100 (UK): Open: 8,290.10 | Close: 8,245.60
- CAC 40 (France): Open: 7,510.30 | Close: 7,465.80
- EURO STOXX 50: Open: 4,860.20 | Close: 4,825.40
- AEX (Netherlands): Open: 890.15 | Close: 884.20
- IBEX 35 (Spain): Open: 11,380.00 | Close: 11,310.50
- FTSE MIB (Italy): Open: 33,850.40 | Close: 33,620.10
- SMI (Switzerland): Open: 12,050.20 | Close: 11,980.60
- BEL 20 (Belgium): Open: 3,890.10 | Close: 3,865.30
- ATX (Austria): Open: 3,610.40 | Close: 3,585.00
- OMXS30 (Sweden): Open: 2,580.10 | Close: 2,555.40
- OMXC25 (Denmark): Open: 1,940.50 | Close: 1,922.10
- WIG20 (Poland): Open: 2,340.00 | Close: 2,315.80
- MOEX Russia Index: Open: 2,780.30 | Close: 2,795.50
Asia-Pacific
- Nikkei 225 (Japan): Open: 36,450.00 | Close: 36,581.00
- Shanghai Composite (China): Open: 2,702.10 | Close: 2,710.40
- Hang Seng Index (Hong Kong): Open: 17,380.50 | Close: 17,420.20
- SZSE Component (China): Open: 8,020.10 | Close: 8,055.30
- China A50: Open: 11,480.00 | Close: 11,515.00
- Taiwan Weighted Index: Open: 21,720.00 | Close: 21,810.50
- KOSPI (South Korea): Open: 2,570.10 | Close: 2,582.40
- NIFTY 50 (India): Open: 25,380.00 | Close: 25,420.10
- S&P BSE Sensex (India): Open: 83,010.20 | Close: 83,180.50
- S&P/ASX 200 (Australia): Open: 8,110.40 | Close: 8,140.90
- All Ordinaries (Australia): Open: 8,330.10 | Close: 8,362.00
- NZX 50 (New Zealand): Open: 12,650.00 | Close: 12,685.20
- SET Index (Thailand): Open: 1,420.30 | Close: 1,428.10
- JKSE (Indonesia): Open: 7,810.00 | Close: 7,835.60
- FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI: Open: 1,650.20 | Close: 1,655.40
Middle East & Africa
- Tadawul All Share Index (Saudi Arabia): Open: 11,850.10 | Close: 11,810.40
- TA-35 (Israel): Open: 2,080.20 | Close: 2,065.00
- BIST 100 (Turkey): Open: 9,680.00 | Close: 9,620.50
