European gas retreats from multi-week highs as profit-taking checks energy surge By Investing.com

• The EUR/JPY currency pair remained steady around 183.80 on Thursday, reflecting a balance between European Central Bank (ECB) rate hike expectations and Bank of Japan (BoJ) tightening hopes. • The Japanese Yen continues to struggle due to significant interest rate differentials compared to other major economies and rising import costs.

• European stocks retreated from record highs on Wednesday as investors balanced corporate earnings reports against escalating geopolitical risks in the Middle East. • Market sentiment was partially supported by a benign U.S. inflation reading, which reduced immediate fears that the Federal Reserve would implement an interest-rate hike next month.

• Indian benchmark indices showed divergent trends on expiry day, with the Sensex gaining 114 points while the Nifty fell over 40 points. • Market sentiment was supported by softer inflation data, though elevated crude oil prices and geopolitical risks kept investors cautious and the Nifty rangebound.

• Wall Street's main indexes traded higher on Thursday as falling crude oil prices boosted investor risk appetite. • Market gains were supported by a softer-than-expected producer price inflation reading, signaling a potential cooling of price pressures.

• The S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished higher on August 12th after the New York Stock Exchange reacted to new inflation data. • Market gains were driven by the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which confirmed a slowdown in inflation.

• US stock markets, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow, rose as falling crude oil prices and softer inflation data boosted investor sentiment. • Core Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.2%, coming in below the 0.3% forecast, following a July Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase of 0.1%.

• US stock futures remained flat or slightly weaker on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as investors awaited new inflation data. • Market attention is centered on the US 10-year Treasury yield, which is currently near 4.7%, amid a 46% to 51% probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September.

• European stocks remained largely stagnant on Wednesday, August 12, with the pan-European STOXX 600 holding steady at 661.26 points. • Investors are currently cautious, balancing the impact of recent corporate earnings reports against rising geopolitical tensions.

• The pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index recently rose by 1.70%, driven by resilient corporate earnings and an improved appetite for risk among investors. • This growth occurs despite persistent geopolitical uncertainties, creating a climate of cautious optimism across European equity markets.

• European equities are narrowing the performance gap with the S&P 500, driven by accelerating earnings revisions across the region. • The DAX has led this trend, recording a 9.64% gain over the last three months, marking its fastest quarterly pace among major indices.

• European stocks saw mixed results with the STOXX 600 rising 0.2%, as lower oil prices provided relief despite ongoing Middle East tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. • Shipping giant Maersk surged 8.3% after exceeding profit expectations and raising its full-year earnings guidance for the second time this year, driven by high freight rates.