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US Markets: Broader indices in the United States traded on a mixed note - particularly, the S&P 500 index traded 2.13 points or 0.05 per cent lower at 4,445.95, Dow Jones Industrial Average Index dipped by 41.10 points or 0.12 per cent lower at 35,302.18, and the technology benchmark index Nasdaq Composite traded higher at 14,668.80, up by 12.60 points or 0.09 per cent against the previous day close (at the time of writing – 11:00 AM ET).
US Market News: The major indices of Wall Street traded on a mixed note as investors anticipated the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes. Among the gaining stocks, Alcon AG (ALC) shares surged by about 11.48% after the Company reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised the full-year guidance. ViacomCBS (VIAC) shares went up by about 6.20% after Wells Fargo Securities had upgraded the stock to “overweight”. Agilent Technologies (A) shares grew by around 1.53% after the Company reported top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability more than the estimates. Among the declining stocks, Target Corp (TGT) shares slipped by around 1.10%, even after the Company’s quarterly revenue and earnings came out to be more than the consensus estimates.
UK Market News: The London markets traded on a mixed note after investors digested the latest inflation data. According to the Office for National Statistics, the core inflation had shown a year-on-year growth of around 1.90% during July 2021, while it was 2.30% during June 2021.
Hochschild Mining shares grew by about 0.66% after the Company had reported a noticeable jump in the top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability during the first half. Furthermore, the Company’s total production remained significantly ahead of the prior year levels.
FTSE 100 listed Persimmon shares rose by around 1.01% after the Company had reported substantial growth in the interim profits benefitted by increased demand and government support measures.
Network International Holdings had swung back into profitability and reaffirmed the full-year profit expectations. Moreover, the shares climbed by around 11.26%.
Balfour Beatty shares plunged by around 7.12%, even after the Company had reported an interim profit and reinstated the dividend payments.
European Indices Performance (at the time of writing):
FTSE 100 Index One Year Performance (as on 18 August 2021)
1 Year FTSE 100 Chart (Source: Refinitiv)
Top 3 Volume Stocks in FTSE 100*: Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY); Vodafone Group Plc (VOD); Glencore Plc (GLEN).
Top 3 Sectors traded in green*: Healthcare (+1.09%), Technology (+1.08%) and Utilities (+0.53%).
Top 3 Sectors traded in red*: Basic Materials (-3.38%), Energy (-0.92%) and Consumer Non-Cyclicals (-0.51%).
London Stock Exchange: Stocks Performance (at the time of writing)
Crude Oil Future Prices*: Brent future crude oil (future) price and WTI crude oil (future) price were hovering at $68.29/barrel and $65.28/barrel, respectively.
Gold Price*: Gold price was quoting at US$ 1,786.15 per ounce, down by 0.09% against the prior day closing.
Currency Rates*: GBP to USD: 1.3762; EUR to GBP: 0.8513.
Bond Yields*: US 10-Year Treasury yield: 1.278%; UK 10-Year Government Bond yield: 0.5725%.
*At the time of writing
