Harris Edges Trump in Early Debate, Markets Respond Cautiously

In early Asian trading on Wednesday, U.S. stock futures and the dollar slipped following the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Analysts noted that Harris seemed to perform stronger. While markets showed minimal volatility from the debate, analysts predict tight election results affecting fiscal policy.

In early Asian trading on Wednesday, U.S. stock futures along with the dollar slipped as Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris faced off for their first debate. Notably, Harris seemed to outperform Trump, with online prediction market PredictIt showing her odds rise to 55% from 52%, while Trump's fell to 47% from 51%.

During and post-debate, stock futures eased, with S&P 500 E-minis down 0.5% and Nasdaq 100 E-minis off 0.65%. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency’s strength against six major peers, slipped by 0.23%. Comments from market strategists indicated no significant impact on markets due to the debate, aligning with low volatility expectations.

Experts noted that although Harris appeared confident and outlined her economic policies, the debate lacked substantial content relevant to investors. Market reactions might intensify as top soundbites from the debate are discussed in the coming days. Analysts predict that the election outcome will closely influence fiscal policy and financial markets.

(With inputs from agencies.)