Renewed tensions between the United States and Russia have resurfaced following an incident involving an oil tanker, sparking market concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supplies. Washington's move, associated with tightening oversight and enforcement of sanctions on Russian oil shipments, is viewed by Moscow as provocative and could worsen relations between the two countries. Russia views these actions as an attempt by the United States to suppress Russian energy exports and strengthen its dominance in the global oil market. Meanwhile, Washington argues that these measures...
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...
China's 10-year government bond yield plunged to around 1.98%, nearing an all-time low, following the release of the latest PMI data. On Wednesday, a private survey showed China's services PMI fell in November 2024 from a three-month high in October, missing market expectations. In contrast, earlier this week, the same survey offered a more optimistic outlook, with the manufacturing PMI showing expansion for a second straight month, hitting a five-month high and beating estimates. The mixed signals underscore the uneven recovery across China's economic sectors. Elsewhere, the Communist...
The Shanghai Composite declined 0.2% to around 3,372, while the Shenzhen Component dropped 0.1% to 10,700 on Wednesday, with Chinese stocks struggling to build on recent gains as caution prevailed in the region following a political upheaval in South Korea. Economic uncertainties in China, exacerbated by US President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats, also weighed on the market outlook. Moreover, data showed that Chinese services sector growth unexpectedly decelerated in November amid slowing new business and foreign sales. Adding to the uncertainty, China's Politburo chose not to...
Asian stock markets fell in unison on Thursday, following Wall Street's decline. A brief rally in tech stocks led by Nvidia quickly faded, prompting investors to turn away from riskier assets like...
European stock indices closed marginally lower on Wednesday as equities took a breather from their recent strong momentum, while investors continued to assess the outlook for the ECB's policy this...
The upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the legality of President Donald Trump's massive tariffs, which rocked markets in April, is one of the next major tests for US stocks and bonds.
Equity markets...