If it just seems like the first Friday of the month wasn't the same without being able to pore through the Bureau of Labor Statistics' hotly watched monthly jobs report, don't worry. You probably didn't miss much. While the BLS has gone dark with the shutdown in Washington, other reports outside the government data suggest the labor market just plodded along in September. The Dow Jones consensus forecast was for growth of 51,000 in nonfarm payrolls with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%. High-frequency data that includes job postings, private payrolls and state-by-state figures...
European stocks ended higher Wednesday, with the Stoxx 50 up 0.8% and the Stoxx 600 rising 0.4%, as investors monitored political and economic developments. Leading the gains were SAP, which climbed over 4%, and Schneider Electric, up more than 2%. In France, the CAC 40 gained 0.7% as attention turned to a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly. The vote follows Prime Minister Michel Barnier's use of special powers on Monday to push through a controversial budget without parliamentary approval. Both right- and left-wing parties have filed motions of no-confidence, with Barnier's...
The STOXX 50 gained 0.4% and the STOXX 600 edged up 0.2% on Wednesday, marking a third consecutive day of gains and trading at over one-month highs. However, caution persists as traders closely monitor the unfolding political situations in France and South Korea. French lawmakers are set to vote this afternoon on no-confidence motions that will probably topple the government, paving the way for prolonged political uncertainty. Meanwhile, reports indicate that South Korean lawmakers have called for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial declaration of martial...
The Hang Seng ended the session with little move on Wednesday, closing around 19,742 after rising in the previous three sessions. Traders digested private survey data that showed an unexpected slowdown in China's services activity last month, despite a series of support measures since September. In Hong Kong, private sector activity grew for a second straight month, albeit at a slower pace. Market participants were warily watching political developments in South Korea, where a brief declaration of martial law led to opposition calls for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. On the...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Banking, Insurance and Transportation Equipment sectors boosted shares. At the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.06%. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. (TYO:3099), which rose 6.41% or 142.50 points to close at 2,366.00 at the close of trading. Meanwhile, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7012) rose 5.77% or 344.00 points to close at 6,302.00 and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7011) gained 4.76% or 108.50 points to close at 2,388.00 in the last trading...
European stocks were mixed on Wednesday as regional market attention focused on an upcoming no-confidence vote in the French parliament, the National Assembly. The vote is expected to take place tonight after lawmakers debated two motions of no confidence, brought by the left-wing New Popular Front alliance and the right-wing National Rally party, against Prime Minister Michel Barnier's minority government. The motions came after Barnier used special constitutional powers on Monday to push through a disputed budget bill without a parliamentary vote. The National Rally has said it will...
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher, tracking Wall Street gains overnight.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.41% after hitting a fresh record high on Thursday, while the Topix added 0.61%. South...
Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long,...