S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketThe S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1% to end at 8,860 on Friday, extending gains from previous session as gains in gold and tech stocks lifted the market. However, the benchmark index fell 0.5% for the week, as expectations for a near-term rate hike ramped up. A strong jobs report in December sharply lifted bets of a rate increase in February to 60%, and over 80% odds in May. Focus now turns to next week’s quarterly inflation data. Meanwhile, gold miners jumped nearly 5% as bullion prices hit record high. Sector leaders Northern Star and Evolution Mining surged over 5% each. Technology stocks also advanced 3.8%, with Life360 climbing 27% to hit its highest level since December 15, after the family-tracking app provider forecast full-year revenue around 31–32%. In contrast, rate-sensitive sectors retreated, led by financials, with the four largest banks trading in the red. While higher interest rates support bank profitability, they risk dampening the mortgage market by deterring new borrowing.
