US Indices
The stock markets in the United States and Europe showed different trends. In the US, stocks remained stable as investors analyzed a variety of earnings reports from corporations. They also considered a statement from Atlanta Fed President Bostic, who predicted that there would be a 25-basis point rate hike in May, followed by a period of stable rates. The S&P 500 ended the day at 4,154.87, a slight increase of 0.09%, while the DJIA closed at 33,976.63, a slight decrease of 0.03%.
Europe Index
Meanwhile, in Europe, stocks rose as investors felt more positive after hearing about China’s positive 1Q GDP results. They were also interested in financial corporations’ earnings reports to gauge the health of the sector. The MSCI Europe closed at 157.49, a 0.38% increase.
Asian Indices
In the Asia Pacific region, stocks were mixed and slightly lower. Despite China’s encouraging economic data, investor sentiment remained subdued. However, Chinese equities increased due to their first quarter GDP growth of 4.5% YoY, which exceeded expectations. The MSCI APxJ closed at 528.17, a 0.33% decrease.
