Weekly Market News Summary For December 27, 2019 to January 2, 2020

Friday, December 27, 2019: Global Stocks Register New Record Highs

Global stock markets posted new record highs on Friday, as the year-end rally continued, due to positive profit data at Chinese industrial firms, and as optimism over the US-China trade deal supported outlook for worldwide economic expansion.

The MSCI All-Country World index edged up 0.35%, while the pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.21%, whereas the Dow gained 0.19% and the S&P 500 advanced 0.10%.

Monday, December 30, 2019: Oil Hits 3-month Highs on Upbeat Chinese Data

Oil prices climbed to three-month highs on Monday, finding support on confidence over the anticipated trade agreement and upbeat factory activity in China, while investors closely monitored the Middle East, following the US’ retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

Brent crude futures added nearly 1% to $68.79 per barrel, while WTI crude futures surged 0.5% to $62.06 per barrel.

Tuesday, December 31, 2019: Gold Prices Hit 3-month Highs

The safe-haven gold hit a 3-month high on Tuesday, as the weaker dollar prompted investors to seek the safe-haven metal.

Spot gold reached its highest since September 25 at $1,525.20, while US gold futures climbed 0.3% to $1,523.60, whereas palladium was set for an increase of more than 50% in its fourth consecutive annual rise, and silver was on course for its best year since 2010.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020: Airbus Claims Top Spot from Boeing

Airbus is now the world’s largest plane maker after reaching a better-than-expected delivery figure for 2019, claiming the top spot from its US rival Boeing, and further stressing the gap Boeing needs to fill to recover its market position

An airport and tracking sources stated on Wednesday that the European plane maker made 863 jet deliveries in the previous year, while Airbus declined to comment on the data, which still needs to be audited before it can be finalized and released to the public.

Thursday, January 2, 2020: South Korea Factory Activity Recovers in December

South Korea’s factory activity showed better performance in December, ending seven consecutive months of contraction, after foreign demand grew stronger.

The country’s PMI was up 50.1 last month, compared to 49.4 in November, while the new export orders index rose 51.3 in December from 49.9 in the previous month, marking as the highest reading since June 2018, a private business survey showed on Thursday.