Headlines Aug 25

​On a quiet day of trading, US shares were up ahead of the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole Symposium later this week.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 both rose on Wednesday, reaching new highs. Treasury rates and crude oil prices rose, propelling the financial and energy sectors upward. However, European equities meandered, while a barometer of Chinese tech firms struggled to sustain a surge.
In the face of rising delta variant instances, business profitability, expanded vaccines, and monetary policy assistance have helped to mend confidence. Nevertheless, when Fed Chairman Jerome Powell talks digitally on Friday, traders will be looking for additional clarification on how quickly the Fed expects to begin reducing its asset-purchase program.
Despite a rise in inflation and uneven economic indicators, investors are eager to learn more about the Fed's views on monetary assistance. Orders for business equipment placed with US companies unexpectedly paused in July, signaling a break in a months-long buildup in capital investment.
WTI crude oil rose, adding to Tuesday's greatest two-day rally since November 2020. Gold fell below $1,800. The dollar remained relatively unchanged.