TL;DR
- Markets on Edge: Global equities and commodities stalled as traders braced for a potential U.S. government shutdown, with fragile sentiment despite AI-driven optimism.
- Yields & Regional Moves: U.S. Treasury yields eased slightly; Europe slipped, Asia traded mixed, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng outperformed on tech strength.
- Commodities, Currencies & Crypto: Oil and gold retreated, safe-haven currencies gained, and major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin ($112,978) and Ethereum ($4,148) showed resilience amid broader uncertainty.
Global markets entered a cautious holding pattern as September closed, with traders bracing for the possibility of a United States government shutdown. The uncertainty weighed on equities, commodities, and currencies, while investors debated whether recent momentum in artificial intelligence stocks could offset broader risks. Treasury yields eased slightly, but sentiment remained fragile across regions.
US Treasury Yields and Global Equities
The 10‑year Treasury yield slipped one basis point to 4.13%, while the 2‑year yield fell more than 2 basis points to 3.61%. The 30‑year yield held steady at 4.71%. European equities opened lower, with the Stoxx 600 index down 0.2% as most sectors traded in the red. In Asia, performance was mixed: Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.25%, South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.19%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.16%. By contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.95%, supported by a 2.38% jump in the Hang Seng Tech Index.
Commodities and Currency Shifts
Oil prices extended losses, with Brent crude futures for November delivery falling 1.2% to $67.13 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate down 1.2% to $62.68. Both benchmarks had already dropped more than 3% on Monday, marking their sharpest daily fall since August 1. Gold retreated 0.6% after touching record highs earlier in the session, though it remains up 45% this year.
Currency markets reflected the tension: the dollar erased September’s gains, the yen gained ground on expectations of U.S. fiscal disruption, and the Swiss franc strengthened 0.2% to 0.796 against the dollar. The euro edged up to $1.1742, while the British pound held at $1.3448.
Regional Markets Highlights
China’s CSI 300 index closed 0.45% higher at 4,640.69, reflecting resilience despite global uncertainty. In Hong Kong, Zijin Gold shares surged more than 60% on debut, drawing attention to precious metals amid volatile flows. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its benchmark rate at 3.6%, in line with expectations, as inflation remains elevated. Across Europe, investors weighed modest UK growth data showing a 0.3% expansion between April and June.
Cryptocurrency Price Report
According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $112,978, up 0.74% as it continues to anchor markets sentiment. Ethereum (ETH) is at $4,148, showing steady growth with strong DeFi activity. Solana (SOL) sits at $206, slightly down but maintaining momentum in high-speed blockchain adoption. Dogecoin (DOGE) holds at $0.23, reflecting community-driven resilience.
Binance Coin (BNB) trades near $1,008, consolidating its role in the Binance ecosystem. Cardano (ADA) is priced at $0.79, facing mild pressure amid ongoing upgrades. Tron (TRX) edges higher to $0.34, supported by stablecoin flows.
