Monday’s Market Update I 15-July-2024

European stocks are expected to start the week lower as global markets assess the impact of an assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump during a rally over the weekend.

Following this, these stocks are set to follow the trend set in Asia–Pacific, where markets mostly fell overnight as China’s gross domestic product data disappoints investors, who, as always, play a crucial role in assessing the impact of such events on the market.

Also, gold prices dipped on Monday as the dollar remained firm. Investors are eagerly awaiting comments from Federal Reserve officials and economic data, which are expected to provide further insights into the U.S. interest rate trajectory.

Spot gold eased 0.1% at $2,409.54 per ounce as of 0250 GMT. U.S. gold futures fell 0.2% to $2,414.70 per ounce.

However, in the Asia market, China’s home prices fell again in June. This underscores the ongoing challenge for policymakers attempting to stabilize the property market, which is significantly impacting developers and the economy.

According to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday, new-home prices in 70 cities, excluding state-subsidized housing, dropped 0.67% from May, following a 0.71% decline the previous month. This is the largest drop since October 2014. Values of existing homes declined 0.85%, compared to a 1% decrease a month earlier.