The US inflation data negatively affected stock indices. The Australian dollar fell amid a weak labo

The US stock indices closed lower on Wednesday amid elevated inflation and ongoing instability in the artificial intelligence sector. By the end of the day, the Dow Jones Index (US30) fell by 0.09%. The S&P 500 Index (US500) dropped by 1.11%. The Technology Index NASDAQ (US100) closed Wednesday in the red at 2.02%. Additional pressure on the market came from headline and core inflation data, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may continue tightening interest rates this year. The sell‑off in the technology sector continued: Nvidia shares fell by 3.2%, Broadcom by 3.1%, Micron by 4.1%, and AMD by 5.7%. Negative sentiment in the industry was driven by ASML’s statements about difficulties in meeting rising demand for equipment, as well as progress by Chinese competitors.

European stock markets ended Wednesday’s session higher, demonstrating resilience despite the decline in North American markets. By the end of the day, Germany’s DAX (DE40) rose by 0.15%, France’s CAC 40 (FR40) closed up 0.58%, Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) gained 0.10%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) closed the trading session higher by 0.70%. The key driver was strong earnings and positive expectations from ASML, whose shares rose by 1.2%: the company reported record demand for AI equipment, which it will not be able to fully meet until 2027-2028, and announced capacity expansion. However, the local optimism did not extend to the entire market: Infineon shares fell by 1.2%, and Siemens Energy dropped by 5.5%.

WTI oil prices rose to around $95 per barrel amid renewed attacks in the Middle East and a new IEA report. In its October publication, the agency warned of risks of a persistent diesel fuel shortage until 2027 and noted that the escalation of conflict in Saudi Arabia threatens the recovery of global supplies. The region’s energy infrastructure continues to be attacked: Houthis struck a Saudi Aramco facility, and the Saudi‑led coalition responded by attacking fuel terminals and Houthi stockpiles in Yemen.

In Asia on Wednesday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) fell by 0.05%, China’s FTSE China 50 closed lower by 1.56%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) declined by 0.13%, and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) closed lower yesterday by 0.64%.

The Australian dollar (AUD) fell below $0.70, returning to July lows, amid an unexpectedly weak labor market report. The economy lost 39,300 jobs – the sharpest decline since February of last year, sharply contrasting with expectations of a 20,000 increase. Combined with unemployment remaining at a five‑year high of 4.7% and an upward revision of last month’s data, the statistics indicate possible economic cooling and the end of the active phase of the RBA’s tightening cycle, which raised rates by 100 basis points this year to 4.60%.

On Thursday, the New Zealand dollar (NZD) recovered to $0.561 after falling the previous day to $0.556 – the lowest level since April 2025 – driven by US dollar strength following higher‑than‑expected US inflation data. The published statistics prompted market participants to increase bets on a Federal Reserve rate hike both at the end of this month and in December. Domestically, the key negative factor remains the lag of the RBNZ’s official interest rate behind US and Australian levels, despite the resumption of its monetary tightening cycle.

S&P 500 (US500) 7,718.94 -86.51 (-1.11%)

Dow Jones (US30) 51,621.48 -48.62 (-0.09%)

DAX (DE40) 25,298.61 +38.71 (+0.15%)

FTSE 100 (UK100) 10,724.86 +74.53 (+0.70%)

USD Index 102.54 +0.36 (+0.35%)

News feed for: 2026.10.15
- Australia Unemployment Rate (m/m) at 03:30 (GMT+3) – AUD (HIGH)
- Japan Industrial Production (m/m) at 07:30 (GMT+3) – JPY (MED)
- UK GDP (m/m) at 09:00 (GMT+3) – GBP (MED)
- UK Industrial Production (m/m) at 09:00 (GMT+3) – GBP (LOW)
- UK Trade Balance (m/m) at 09:00 (GMT+3) – GBP (LOW)
- Switzerland Producer Price Index (m/m) at 09:30 (GMT+3) – CHF (MED)
- Eurozone Industrial Production (m/m) at 12:00 (GMT+3) – EUR (LOW)
- US Producer Price Index (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+3) – USD (HIGH)
- US Initial Jobless Claims (m/m) at at 15:30 (GMT+3) – USD (MED)
- US Retail Sales (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+3) – USD (MED)
- US Natural Gas Storage (w/w) at 17:30 (GMT+3) – XNG (HIGH)
- US Crude Oil Reserves (w/w) at 18:00 (GMT+3) – WTI (HIGH)

This article reflects a personal opinion and should not be interpreted as an investment advice, and/or offer, and/or a persistent request for carrying out financial transactions, and/or a guarantee, and/or a forecast of future events.