Global shares trade mixed and gold jumps after the Fed keeps rates
unchanged
[January 29, 2026] By
YURI KAGEYAMA
TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mixed Thursday as a wait-and-see
attitude dominated in regional markets following the Federal Reserve's
decision to keep its key interest rate unchanged.
That was expected, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell said interest rates look
to be “in a good place” for now.
Gold jumped another 2%, trading at $5,543 per ounce. The dollar weakened
against the Japanese yen and oil prices rose.
France's CAC 40 rose nearly 1.0% in early trading to 8,142.92, while
Germany's DAX shed 0.3% to 24,748.68. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.6% to
10,217.86. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures up
nearly 0.1% to 49,207.00. S&P 500 futures edged up 0.3% to 7,026.00.
In Asia, gains for some technology companies reporting strong earnings
failed to give shares in Tokyo much of a lift as the Nikkei 225 rose
less than 0.1% to 53,375.60.
Computer chip testing equipment maker Advantest surged 5.2% after it
reported stronger than anticipated earnings. Some tech company shares,
like Panasonic Holdings, fell, while others rose, like chips maker
Kioxia Holdings Corp. and Sony Corp.
Earnings season is getting into full gear, with major Japanese companies
like Toyota Motor Corp., Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. due to report their
earnings next week.
Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea's Kospi surged 1.0% to 5,221.25, hitting
a fresh record as computer chip maker SK Hynix picked up 2.4% on a
strong earnings report.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.5% to 27,968.09, while the Shanghai
Composite index gained 0.2% to 4,157.98.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed nearly 0.1% to 8,927.50.
In Jakarta, the JSX sank 1.9%, following a decline after the MSCI, a
U.S. provider of global equity, fixed income and real estate indices,
warned about market risks in Indonesia.
[to top of second column] |
A man stands near an electronic board displaying stock prices and
Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite Index, at the Indonesia Stock
Exchange in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan
Syuflana)
 In the foreign-exchange market, the
U.S. dollar stabilized after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said
in an interview on CNBC that the U.S. government is not intervening
in the currency market and continues to want a “strong dollar.”
The dollar fell to 153.26 Japanese yen from 153.42 yen. The euro
cost $1.1977, up from $1.1955.
“From Washington’s side, a slightly firmer yen is convenient for
domestic manufacturing concerns. From Tokyo’s side, even symbolic
Fed acknowledgement buys time and credibility,” Stephen Innes,
managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said in a commentary.
The Fed cut rates several times last year to try to shore up the job
market, but inflation remains stubbornly above its 2% target. Lower
interest rates could worsen inflation while giving the economy a
boost. Lower rates could also further undercut the U.S. dollar’s
value, which would help U.S. exporters. Trump has been pushing
aggressively for lower rates.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude gained 92 cents to $64.13 a
barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 88 cents to
$69.28 a barrel.
___
Associated Press Business Writer Stan Choe contributed.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
