2 April 2026
US stocks extended gains on Wednesday as oil prices fell amid easing investor worries over geopolitical tensions. The S&P 500 rose 0.7%.
US Treasuries ended little changed amid lower oil prices and solid economic data. 10-year yields held steady at 4.32%.
European stocks rebounded on Wednesday amid hopes of easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Euro Stoxx 50 rallied 2.9%. The German DAX rose 2.7% and the French CAC closed 2.1% higher. In the UK, the FTSE 100 gained 1.9%.
European government bonds rose. 10-year German bund yields edged down 2bp to 2.98% and 10-year French bond yields fell 5bp to 3.67%. In the UK, 10-year gilt yields dropped 8bp to 4.83%.
Asian stock markets advanced on Wednesday amid hopes of geopolitical de-escalation. Korea’s Kospi surged 8.4%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 5.2% after a strong Tankan business survey. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 2.0%, and China’s Shanghai Composite added 1.5%. Elsewhere, India’s Sensex gained 1.6%.
Crude oil prices extended declines on Wednesday. WTI crude for May delivery settled 1.2% lower at USD100.1 a barrel.
In the US, the ISM manufacturing index increased to 52.7 in March, from 52.4 in February, remaining in positive territory in part due to lengthening suppliers’ delivery times. Retail sales rose 0.6% mom in February, after a 0.2% mom drop in January, as motor vehicle purchases rebounded. ADP employment increased by 62k in March, from an upwardly revised 66k rise in February and beating expectations.
No major data releases.
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