Reuters :
Equities on world bourses ended the week lower on Friday after China’s currency devaluation on Tuesday shook investors, though volatility declined late in the week, suggesting markets had absorbed Beijing’s surprising actions.
For the week, the MSCI All World Index fell 0.4 percent, its second consecutive weekly decline. China’s modest devaluation of its currency dominated market activity, as the yuan lost 3 percent on the week, and investors were left questioning whether the move will continue to pressure the Japanese yen and other Asian currencies.
US stock indexes ended higher on the week, however, mostly on the strength of big gains on Monday. The S&P 500 finished the week up 0.7 percent. Oil prices rebounded from near six-and-a-half-year lows on Friday but were still expected to remain under pressure due to concerns about oversupply and weak global demand.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 69.15 points, or 0.40 percent, to 17,477.40. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 8.15 points, or 0.39 percent, at 2,091.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 14.68 points, or 0.29 percent, at 5,048.24.
Crude oil prices slumped to the lowest since March 2009 before rebounding. Emerging market currencies slid to historic lows, with the Turkish lira and South African rand in the spotlight, as investors headed for the safety of developed world economies.
The People’s Bank of China set its midpoint yuan rate at 6.3975 per dollar before the market opened on Friday, slightly higher than the previous day’s close of 6.3990. The yuan also strengthened in spot market trading, changing hands at 6.3908.
Equities on world bourses ended the week lower on Friday after China’s currency devaluation on Tuesday shook investors, though volatility declined late in the week, suggesting markets had absorbed Beijing’s surprising actions.
For the week, the MSCI All World Index fell 0.4 percent, its second consecutive weekly decline. China’s modest devaluation of its currency dominated market activity, as the yuan lost 3 percent on the week, and investors were left questioning whether the move will continue to pressure the Japanese yen and other Asian currencies.
US stock indexes ended higher on the week, however, mostly on the strength of big gains on Monday. The S&P 500 finished the week up 0.7 percent. Oil prices rebounded from near six-and-a-half-year lows on Friday but were still expected to remain under pressure due to concerns about oversupply and weak global demand.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 69.15 points, or 0.40 percent, to 17,477.40. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 8.15 points, or 0.39 percent, at 2,091.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 14.68 points, or 0.29 percent, at 5,048.24.
Crude oil prices slumped to the lowest since March 2009 before rebounding. Emerging market currencies slid to historic lows, with the Turkish lira and South African rand in the spotlight, as investors headed for the safety of developed world economies.
The People’s Bank of China set its midpoint yuan rate at 6.3975 per dollar before the market opened on Friday, slightly higher than the previous day’s close of 6.3990. The yuan also strengthened in spot market trading, changing hands at 6.3908.
