The US stock exchanges closed with mixed results on Wednesday. The Dow Jones index calculated at 49,693 points saw a small decline of 0.1 percent compared to the previous day’s trading. In contrast, the Nasdaq 100 finished higher, gaining 1.0 percent to reach 29,367 points, while the broader S&P 500 concluded the day up 0.6 percent at 7,444 points.
Investors’ attention remains highly focused on US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to China. On Thursday and Friday, he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, accompanied by high-level economic figures such as Elon Musk and Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang. Trump aims to persuade Xi toward a deeper opening of the Chinese market for American businesses. Furthermore, discussions are expected to cover the Yemen conflict, with investors keenly awaiting progress regarding the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
In currency markets, the European common currency showed signs of weakening Wednesday evening; the euro cost 1.1712 US dollars, meaning the dollar exchanged for 0.8538 euros. Commodity prices also weakened across the board. Gold prices retreated, with a fine ounce trading at $4,691, marking a 0.5 percent drop. This equates to a price of 128.78 euros per gram. Meanwhile, oil prices dropped, with a North Sea Brent crude barrel priced at $105.80 near German evening hours. This represented a fall of $1.93, or 1.8 percent, less than the previous day’s close.