The performance of global stocks varied during February amid anticipation of the path of interest rates

Abu Dhabi, March 1: Global stock indices varied during February trading, amid investors around the world anticipating the course of interest rates during the current year.
According to the monitoring of the Emirates News Agency, WAM, US stock indices declined on the American Wall Street Stock Exchange, with the growing concern of investors around the world about the prospects for tightening monetary policy in the United States, while European markets rose, supported by corporate results, and the mixed performance of Asian stocks.
Moz Afzal, head of global investment at EFG International Bank, told the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that expectations are likely that the first half of this year will pose a major challenge to global markets, while the second half of the year is expected to witness some expected breakthroughs. .
Afzal expected that the stock markets in Asia and emerging markets will witness some growth during the current year 2023, while the markets in the United States will witness a different performance due to interest rates, the slowdown in the economy and inflation rates, which will negatively affect the performance of the markets.
He added that any “positive news” about inflation rates and interest rates may lead to a significant recovery in global stock markets during the coming period.
According to “WAM” monitoring, the “Standard & Poor’s” index on the American Wall Street Stock Exchange declined last month by 2.6%, or the equivalent of 106.4 points, to reach 3970.15 points, compared to 4076.6 points at its previous level at the end of last January.
The “Dow Jones” industrial index fell by 4.2%, losing 1429.3 points, to reach the level of 32656.7 points, compared to its previous level at 34086.04 points, while the “Nasdaq” index, which is dominated by technology stocks, lost about 129 points, or 1.1%, to reach 11455.54. points against 11584.55 points.
In the European markets, the German “DAX” index rose during the past month by 1.6%, equivalent to 236.9 points, to reach the level of 15365.14 points, compared to its previous level at 15128.27 points at the end of last January.
The European “Stoxx 600” index rose by 1.7%, equivalent to 7.9 points, to reach the level of 461.11 points, compared to 453.2 points, while the “Euro Stoxx 50” index rose by 1.8%, equivalent to 74.9 points, to close at 4238.38 points, compared to 4163.45 points at the end of last January.
The French “CAC” index gained about 185.5 points, or by 2.6%, to reach 7267.93 points, after it was trading at 7082.42 points at the end of last January, while the British “FTSE 100” index recorded an increase of 1.3%, equivalent to 104.6 points, to reach the level of 7876.28. a point.
In terms of Asian markets, the Japanese Nikkei index rose on the Tokyo Stock Exchange during the past month by 0.4%, or the equivalent of 118.4 points, to close at 27445.56 points, while the broader Topix index increased by 0.9%, equivalent to 18 points, to reach 1993.28 points.
The “SSI” Composite Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange rose by 23.9 points, or 0.7%, to close at 3279.61 points, while the “Hang Seng” index closed down by 9.4%, equivalent to 2056.39 points, to reach the level of 19785.9 points.