बाजार बंद की मुख्य विशेषताएं: निफ्टी 22,000 के नीचे बंद हुआ, सेंसेक्स 1,060 नीचे; VIX 6% ऊपर, व्यापक बाजार, क्षेत्रीय सूचकांकों में गिरावट

Market Close Highlights : Nifty ends below 22,000, Sensex down 1,060; VIX up 6%, broader markets, sectoral indices bled

Market Close Highlights World stocks took a moment to catch their breath on Thursday following a robust few weeks, with investors awaiting the Bank of England's rate decision. Meanwhile, Japanese officials hinted at potential intervention measures as the yen continued its decline. After achieving consecutive record highs, the pan-European STOXX 600 experienced a slight 0.1% dip. Notably, Spain witnessed significant activity as Sabadell's 12 billion euro ($12.87 billion) acquisition bid by BBVA turned hostile. In anticipation of the Bank of England's interest rate decision at 1100 GMT, European bond and FX markets remained subdued. The prevailing expectation is for the UK rates to remain unchanged at 5.25%, a status quo maintained since August. Analysts anticipate insights from BoE chief Andrew Bailey during the post-meeting press conference, although clarity on the timing of the next rate cut, the first since 2020, is unlikely. Overnight in Asia, positive Chinese trade data and developments in the property market contributed to the continued outperformance of Chinese stocks. China's imports surged 8.4% in April, surpassing expectations, while exports met forecasts, indicating a potential economic boost.

This buoyed Chinese shares, with blue-chip stocks and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index both posting gains. Additionally, news of Hangzhou lifting home purchase restrictions in the property sector bolstered sentiment and drove property shares up by 2.5%. In contrast, Japan's Nikkei and Australia's resource-heavy share market experienced slight declines, while South Korea also saw a retreat. In the U.S., Nasdaq and S&P 500 stock futures dipped 0.2%, influenced by Uber's 5.7% overnight drop following a pessimistic quarterly forecast. The Japanese yen continued its downward trend, reaching 155.85 per dollar, prompting concerns of potential intervention by Japanese authorities. Despite this, new data revealed a 2.5% decline in Japan's real wages in March compared to the previous year, potentially restraining policymakers from aggressive hikes. In the Treasury market, yields remained relatively stable ahead of the U.S. inflation report scheduled for the following week. Two-year yields held at 4.8511%, while 10-year yields were at 4.5062%, reflecting a modest overnight increase. Among commodities, oil prices saw a slight uptick after rebounding from two-month lows in the previous session. Brent futures rose 0.4% to $83.91 a barrel, while U.S. crude gained 0.5% to $79.40 a barrel. Overall, the global market landscape reflects a moment of pause as investors await key decisions and data releases, with movements across regions influenced by a variety of factors including central bank decisions, economic indicators, and corporate performance.

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