- Stocks recovered after a shaky start to the year as investors awaited more clues on the timing of potential interest-rate cuts, while oil continued to rise as unrest in the Middle East exacerbated supply concerns.
- US equities futures rose, and Europe's STOXX 600 gained 0.4%, boosted by oil majors such as Total and BP after crude rose more than 4% in two sessions. Bonds declined, with the 10-year Treasury yield rising four basis points to 3.95%.
- With a new-year retreat casting a shadow on markets, traders are turning their attention to key US NFP data on Friday for clues on the health of the economy and the scope for rate cuts, as well as geopolitics, amid fears that the war against Hamas will escalate into a larger regional conflict.
- The Nasdaq 100 Index has fallen nearly 3% this year as investors ponder whether last year's euphoric rally was overstated.
