Stephen Innes

China said on Tuesday it was "fully confident" of hitting its growth target this year but held off more stimulus, disappointing markets and fueling concern about a lack of detail on a raft of measures unveiled last month.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, extending the previous day's rally, and safe haven gold pushed towards a record high after Iran's missile attack on Israel ramped up fears about an escalation in the Middle East.

Asian markets were mixed on Monday, with optimism over an expected U.S. interest rate cut offset by worries over the Chinese economy following the release of more disappointing data.

Figures on Aug. 30 showed the Federal Reserve's favored gauge of inflation fell in line with forecasts in July, setting the bank up to ease monetary policy this month.

Japanese stocks surged and markets across Asia started strong on Friday, tracking substantial gains on Wall Street after encouraging U.S. retail sales data reassured investors about the health of the world's biggest economy.

Tokyo led a collapse across Asian and European equities on Monday, after weak U.S. jobs data fanned fears of a recession in the world's top economy and boosted bets on several Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index plunged 12.4 percent, or 4,451.28 points, to 31,458.42, its largest points drop in history.

Oil prices rallied and equities sank on April 19 as reports said explosions had been heard in Iran and Syria, fuelling fears of an escalation of the Middle East crisis after last weekend's missile attack on Israel by Tehran.

Traders have been on edge since last week's barrage by Iran, which Israel's army chief General Herzi Halevi warned would be met with a response.

Asian shares mostly gained on Wednesday after global markets fell as traders locked in profits following recent tech-driven rallies.

Gold prices and bitcoin hit all-time highs Tuesday before reversing gains, while the sell-off in some technology stocks hit many markets around the world.

Asian shares skidded on April 21 after U.S. oil futures plunged below zero with storage for crude nearly full as demand collapses due to the pandemic.

Shares fell in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai and New York stock futures retreated after the S&P 500 sank 1.8% overnight, giving up some big gains from last week.

World stocks closed out a notably profitable year, with Wall Street recording its best annual performances since 2013, boosted by hopes for a US-China trade deal.
New York rallied into the close on Dec. 31, turning positive for the day and leaving the broad-based S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq up 29 percent and 35 percent respectively for 2019, the best showings in six years.