World stocks have mostly seen positive growth Thursday, as figures have shown that Chinese growth, while slowing, has held up better than analysts expected.
US corporate earnings continue to rise, beating analysts expectations after having a buoyant day Wednesday. The rally way formed on the back of solid earnings from companies like Boeing and Delta Airlines. Earnings news coming out of the US is being watched carefully, with expected earnings results from Caterpillar highly anticipated as an insight into the state of the construction sector.
With no shortage of earnings reports due, the market is hanging on every word of them, with any big shock or surprise likely to have ripple effects on the exchange.
One of the key points of interest was the news that China’s economy had slowed to a still-healthy 9.6 percent in the third quarter as compared to the same earnings from the previous year. Though it was down from last quarters 10.3 percent, it was still higher than analysts were expecting. Relief was also felt that inflation pressures were also relatively harmless at this stage.
Chinese growth and economic strategies will also be central stage at the G20 finance minister’s meeting his week, with all eyes on the US and China to see if they can come to some kind of accord regarding China’s currency policy. Any accord would likely see the US pledge not to devalue its currency in order to avoid trouble, and China to let its artificially-low yuan appreciate at a natural pace.
