Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1510811
SYMBOL LAST CHANGE % HIGH LOW DOW JONES – US 33,561.80 -56.88 -0.17% 33,656.40 33,509.70 NASDAQ – US 12,179.50 +0.00 +0.00% 12,216.10 12,174.10 S&P 500 – US 4,119.17 -18.95 -0.46% 4,130.35 4,116.65 RUSSELL 2000 – US 1,749.68 -4.79 -0.27% 1,756.09 1,737.70 S&P TSX – CANADA 20,585.70 +0.58 +0.00% 20,599.00 20,455.50 IPC – MEXICO 55,452.70 +419.61 +0.76% 55,497.80 54,899.40 FTSE – UK 7,750.80 -13.29 -0.17% 7,778.98 7,750.37 CAC 40 – FRANCE 7,373.77 -23.40 -0.32% 7,416.32 7,373.20 DAX 40 – GERMANY 15,886.20 -69.32 -0.43% 15,980.80 15,884.00 FTSE MIB – ITALY 27,325.70 -57.80 -0.21% 27,476.40 27,324.70 MICEX – RUSSIA 2,524.31 -3.28 -0.13% 2,535.03 2,483.79 NIKKEI 225 – JAPAN 29,122.20 -120.64 -0.41% 29,195.20 29,070.10 SHANGHAI COMPOSITE – CHINA 3,319.15 -38.52 -1.15% 3,349.72 3,305.25 HANG SENG – HONG KONG 19,776.90 -90.64 -0.46% 19,880.00 19,696.60 NIFTY 50 – INDIA 18,249.10 -16.90 -0.09% 18,323.20 18,211.90 KOSPI – KOREA 2,496.51 -13.55 -0.54% 2,510.13 2,488.42 2.11.2023 7 MARKETS International Markets Global Indices Trading Date: 1 November 2023 FTSE 100 Daily Price Chart DAX 40 Daily Price Chart EUROPEAN stocks were struggling for direction on Wednesday, with most major indices trading broadly flat as investors showed their nerves ahead of a Federal Re- serve monetary policy decision later on. e pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up just 0.08% or 0.3 points at 434 by 1222 CET, with just 2.7 points separating the day's high and low. e index rose by 1% over Monday and Tuesday - bouncing back after hitting a 10-month low last week - helped by data which showed that Eurozone inflation eased more than expected, rais- ing hopes that the European Central Bank would start to cut interest rates sooner than anticipated next year. Investors are now looking ahead to the potentially market-moving conclusion of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting in Washington, with a deci- sion due out after markets close at 1800 GMT. "e broad expectation is the Fed will sit on its hands for now, so all the focus is likely to be drawn to any hints dropped about the future direction of monetary policy," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. "Given the volatile economic and geopolitical backdrop, Jerome Powell will have to weigh any words in the accompany- ing statement carefully if he wants to avoid giving inves- tors the jitters." Eyes turn to economic data Economic data will also be in focus on Wednesday, with the closely watched ADP Employment Report from the US due out at 1215 GMT, along with ISM US manu- facturing figures. Closer to home, the UK Nationwide housing price in- dex unexpectedly rose by 0.9% in October after a revised 0.1% increase in September, surprising analysts who had expected a fall of 0.4% Meanwhile, the Caixin PMI showed that China's man- ufacturing sector unexpectedly contracted for the first time in three months in October, with the headline PMI falling to 49.5 from 50.6 the month before. e consen- sus forecast was for a pick-up to 50.8. Pharma stocks in focus GSK initially rallied after the drug maker lifted its full-year profit outlook, but shares fell into the red be- fore midday in London. e UK-listed firm now expects turnover to increase by 12% to 13%, up from previous guidance of 8% to 10%, and adjusted operating profit growth of 13% to 15%, up from 11% to 13%. Stocks flat as risk appetite declines ahead of FOMC decision