Seoul Gazette - Global stocks on cautious footing before key US inflation data

Several Federal Reserve decision-makers have warned recently that more tightening could be warranted to bring prices under control, tempering optimism that its hiking cycle had come to an end.

That sparked a sell-off on Friday, though a tech-led surge on Wall Street before the weekend provided traders in Asia with some support on Monday and the positivity spilled over into Europe.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2 percent, while the broad-based S&P 500 Index and the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index both declined.

Across the Atlantic ocean, major European indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt all saw gains.

- Eagerly awaiting CPI -

The closely-watched consumer price index (CPI) gauge of inflation will be published Tuesday, shedding light on the Fed's progress in its fight against high inflation.

Although the CPI has dropped sharply since peaking at more than nine percent last year, it remains elevated, keeping up the pressure on the Fed to act.

"I think everyone is waiting for the inflation report," Jack Ablin from Cresset Capital told AFP.

A higher reading would likely reinforce expectations that more rate increases are in the cards, raising borrowing costs for businesses and consumers alike, and weighing on growth.

However, most analysts expect data to show that the CPI eased in October, solidifying the likelihood that the Fed is done raising rates.

Investors will be also watching a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in San Francisco later in the week, amid signs of a possible thaw in tensions between the worlds largest economies.

Chinese officials said the two would discuss "global peace and development."

Oil prices found support following weeks of retreat after the release of OPEC's monthly report for October predicted "healthy" demand through 2024 despite the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza and the fears of slowing growth worldwide.

But OEPC heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Russia could signal continued supply cuts at a November 26 ministerial meeting in response to the recent price weakness.

"This should therefore limit the downside potential," said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at StoneX.

- Key figures around 2030 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 34,337.87 points (close)

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.1 percent at 4,411.55 (close)

New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 13,767.74 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 7,425.83 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.6 percent at 7,087.06 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.7 percent at 15,345.00 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.8 percent at 4,232.19 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 32,585.11 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.3 percent at 17,426.21 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,046.53 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0701 from $1.0686 on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2280 from $1.2224

Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.12 pence from 87.39 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 151.71 yen from 151.47 yen

Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.3 percent at $82.52 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.4 percent at $78.26 per barrel

E.Yeon--SG