Markets rght now: Dollar slides amid U.S. gridlock concerns

Pan Pylas, The Associated Press</span>
Published Wednesday, November 7, 2018 12:34AM EST
Last Updated Wednesday, November 7, 2018 6:12AM EST

NEW YORK -- The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

5:30 a.m.

The dollar has weakened in the wake of the U.S. midterm elections which saw the Democrats win control of the House of Representatives and the Republicans hold onto the Senate.

The currency was down 0.3 per cent at 113.09 yen while the euro advanced 0.5 per cent to $1.1485.

The decline appears related to uncertainty over whether there will be political deadlock in Washington.

Konstantinos Anthis, head of research at financial services firm ADSS, said President Donald Trump will "definitely have a tougher time getting his legislative initiatives through Congress" but that this in "shouldn't be a dampening factor for the dollar itself in the long term."

Potentially more important for the dollar this week, he said, will be the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate announcement on Thursday and its accompanying statement. Though rates are expected to be kept on hold, policymakers are set to signal a further increase next month.

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4:20 a.m.

Share prices have closed mixed in Asia with several major regional benchmarks giving up early gains.

The retreat Wednesday followed results from U.S. midterm elections that were no surprise but raised the prospect for greater uncertainty as the opposition Democrats regained a majority in the House of Representatives.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index lost 0.3 per cent to 22,085.80 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index yoyo'd back into positive territory, adding 0.1 per cent to 26,147.69. The Kospi in South Korea lost 0.5 per cent to 2,078.69 and the Shanghai Composite index skidded 0.7 per cent to 2,641.34. Australia's S&P ASX 200 added 0.4 per cent to 5,896.90 and shares also rose in Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia.

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3:40 a.m.

European stock markets have opened strongly after the U.S. midterm results came in largely as anticipated with the Democrats taking back control of the House of Representatives and the Republicans holding onto the Senate.

Among the main indexes, Britain's FTSE 100 was up 1 per cent at 7,113 while Germany's DAX also spiked 1 per cent to 11,598. The CAC 40 in France was 1.1 per cent at 5,131.

Though the election results raise the prospect of political gridlock in Washington, Mike Read, founder of social trading platform Pelican, said the "cloud of uncertainty from the last few weeks has lifted and we're back to seeing trading as usual."

As a result, he thinks many traders who have stayed on the sidelines in recent weeks will return to the markets.

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1:45 a.m.

Asian shares have wavered after a strong start as Democrats appear on track to take back control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The outcome of the U.S. midterm election could put a check on President Donald Trump and his aggressive trade policies, although a great deal of uncertainty remains.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell back in late trading, giving up 0.3 per cent, and the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.5 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged 0.1 per cent lower and the Kospi in South Korea declined 0.5 per cent.

The U.S. dollar edged lower and oil prices also fell, with benchmark U.S. crude oil down 40 cents at $61.81 per barrel.

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1:00 a.m.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 have held steady with the Democrats looking likely to gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

By midday in Asian trading on Wednesday the future contracts had showed none of the drastic swings seen with the 2016 presidential election. The mixed outcome for the midterm election, with the Republican Party still in control of the Senate, suggested a limited scope for a change of course on President Donald Trump's polices on trade and other issues.

The future contract for the Dow rose 0.3 per cent to 25,707.00 and that for the S&P 500 added 0.2 per cent to 2,764.80.

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12:00 a.m.

Asian shares are trading higher as results come in for the U.S. midterm elections.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.5 per cent to 22,265.05. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.3 per cent higher to 5,894.30. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.4 per cent at 2,098.35. Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.5 per cent to 26,505.06, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.5 per cent to 2,672.89.

The election results were being closely watched in Asia, as they could affect U.S. trade, economic and security policies.

The Democrats were gaining significant ground in the battle for House control, while Republicans held their Senate majority, according to early results.

The dollar rose to 113.21 yen from 113.18 yen, while the euro climbed to $1.1464 from $1.1427.

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