Nasdaq Enjoys Ninth Straight Day of Gains, BHP Billiton Steels Itself For The Year Ahead
February 24, 2015 7:20 am
Asian share markets crept higher on Tuesday as Tokyo scored another 15-year peak, though gains were hostage to what Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen might say later in the day about the likely lift-off date for U.S. rate hikes. The Nasdaq ended higher on Monday for a ninth straight day following gains in Apple, while the Dow and S&P 500 eased off recent record highs as lower oil prices dragged down energy shares. The Dow closed 23 points lower at 18,116, the S&P500 lost 0.64 points to close at 2,109.
The Euro remained on the defensive at $1.1336, having failed to sustain a bounce to $1.1412 overnight. Against the Yen, the Dollar edged up 0.2% to 119.08 Yen, having traded in a range of 118.11 Yen to 119.42 Yen range since Feb. 16. The New Zealand Dollar slid 0.7% to $0.7475, pulling away from a one-month high of $0.7574 touched last week.
Oil prices tried to steady after their latest retreat, with U.S. crude up a single cent at $49.46, while Brent added 24 cents to $59.14 a barrel.
Global miner BHP Billiton posted a 31% drop in half-year profit as prices for all its main products collapsed, but beat market forecasts and flagged further belt tightening to withstand the tough conditions. The stock is currently top of the FTSE 100 in early trade up 3.5% at 1600p per share.
Asian share markets crept higher on Tuesday as Tokyo scored another 15-year peak, though gains were hostage to what Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen might say later in the day about the likely lift-off date for U.S. rate hikes. The Nasdaq ended higher on Monday for a ninth straight day following gains in Apple, while the Dow and S&P 500 eased off recent record highs as lower oil prices dragged down energy shares. The Dow closed 23 points lower at 18,116, the S&P500 lost 0.64 points to close at 2,109.
The Euro remained on the defensive at $1.1336, having failed to sustain a bounce to $1.1412 overnight. Against the Yen, the Dollar edged up 0.2% to 119.08 Yen, having traded in a range of 118.11 Yen to 119.42 Yen range since Feb. 16. The New Zealand Dollar slid 0.7% to $0.7475, pulling away from a one-month high of $0.7574 touched last week.
Oil prices tried to steady after their latest retreat, with U.S. crude up a single cent at $49.46, while Brent added 24 cents to $59.14 a barrel.
Global miner BHP Billiton posted a 31% drop in half-year profit as prices for all its main products collapsed, but beat market forecasts and flagged further belt tightening to withstand the tough conditions. The stock is currently top of the FTSE 100 in early trade up 3.5% at 1600p per share.
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