FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX)

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SHARES

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GERMANY: - PRICE GAINS - The Dax is likely to add a few more points to its previous day's gains on Thursday. Broker IG estimated the leading German index 0.3 percent higher at 18,458 points around two hours before the Xetra start. It is therefore likely to break above the 50-day line again. The focus is on US consumer prices. In the afternoon, these could provide important indications of the interest rate cuts expected soon. Following the latest statements by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, investors are again increasingly expecting easing in the US in the near future. "Even if it should still take until September, after Powell's two statements, investors are looking forward to cheaper money again," said market observer Konstantin Oldenburger from broker CMC Markets. Apparently, the Fed does not see inflation as the only risk. Powell perceives a clear slowdown in the labor market.

USA: - FURTHER RECORDS - The record chase on the US stock market picked up speed on Wednesday. Both the broad-based S&P 500 and the technology indices Nasdaq 100 and Nasdaq Composite rose significantly and once again reached record highs. In contrast to the previous days, the Dow Jones Industrial benchmark index also gained momentum. Hopes of an imminent easing of monetary policy by the US Federal Reserve and the surge in technology stocks driven by artificial intelligence continue to provide impetus for the stock markets. The Dow rose by 1.09% to 39,721.36 points. The S&P 500 broke through the 5,600-point mark for the first time and closed 1.02% higher.

ASIA: - GAINS - Strong tech stocks and hopes of an imminent cut in key interest rates in the USA also drove stock markets in Asia on Thursday. In Tokyo, Japan's leading index, the Nikkei 225, broke through the 42,000 point mark for the first time. Most recently, it was still up a good one percent. The CSI 300 with the most important stocks on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges also rose by around one percent and in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index rose by 1.5 percent.

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DAX 18407.22 0.94%

XDAX 18456.14 1.18%

EuroSTOXX 50 4958.86 1.13%

Stoxx50 4516.74 0.97%

DJIA 39721.36 1.09%

S&P 500 5633.91 1.02%

NASDAQ 100 20675.37 1.09%°

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BONDS / FOREIGN EXCHANGE / CRUDE OIL

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BONDS:

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Bund future 131.23 -0.09%°

DEVISES:

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Euro/USD 1.0836 0.06%

USD/Yen 161.66 -0.02%

Euro/Yen 175.19 0.04%

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CRUDE OIL:

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Brent 85.75 0.67 USD

WTI 82.75 0.65 USD°

/mis/jha/