'We don't work for Trump': Democrats seize control of Senate

On Wednesday, the US dollar and global oil prices declined following a resounding victory by Democrats in midterm elections, marking their control of Congress. President Donald Trump's administration will now face potential scrutiny, legislative roadblocks, and obstruction of judicial and senior government appointments. Investment director Russ Mould of AJ Bell highlighted the uncertainty surrounding how Trump might act in the months ahead following the election result.

Oil prices experienced a downward trend, with Brent North Sea crude decreasing by 1.2% to $102.36 per barrel and WTI dropping by 0.8% to $95.42. Investors assessed the impact of Democrats' electoral triumph on US policy and the prospect of political gridlock under Trump, who threatened to become "Mr Veto." Technology firms also faced declines, with concerns about potential AI regulation under a Democratic-led government.

Conversely, European stock markets witnessed gains, with London, Frankfurt, and Paris rising by more than 1% as investors dismissed data showing a three-year high of 4.0% eurozone inflation. The US midterm elections saw tens of millions of Americans voting, with voters expressing frustration over high fuel prices, tariffs, and the Iran conflict.

Analyst Chris Weston noted that Trump still retained substantial executive authority, making the election's impact on policy "far from straightforward." Despite the political turmoil, bond yields remained stable, and gold benefited from its reputation as a safe-haven asset. Car manufacturer BMW announced plans to increase job cuts due to weak profit performance, driven by intense competition and falling demand in China, the world's largest automobile market.

Tech giant Google announced a $15 billion investment in Malaysia over the next two years to develop data centers and infrastructure.