US stocks traded with little movement on Monday as the market awaited new catalysts this week and incoming clues regarding the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook. The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones were all relatively flat and remained near record highs reached last week. Minutes from this week's FOMC meeting and Jackson Hole Symposium are likely to provide clues regarding the direction of interest rates.Equities have been supported by bets on multiple rate cuts by the Fed this year, fueled by concerns about a weaker labor market and expectations of disinflation following a...
The Hang Seng Index fell 93 points, or 0.4%, to close at 25,177 on Monday (August 18th), reversing early gains as property and financial stocks dragged the index down. Sentiment worsened due to rising debt repayment risks in Hong Kong's property sector, with bond maturities expected to surge to nearly 70% next year amid weak sales. US index futures also weakened as President Trump plans to announce tariffs on semiconductor imports in the coming weeks. Caution prevailed ahead of the Fed's Jackson Hole symposium, where Chairman Powell is expected to outline the economic outlook and policy...
European stocks traded steady as investors awaited a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart. Novo Nordisk A/S advanced on another US approval for its weight-loss drug. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was little changed at 8:12 a.m. in London. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk gained as much as 5% after its blockbuster Wegovy received Food and Drug Administration approval to treat a serious form of liver disease. Utilities and healthcare sectors outperformed, while banks and miners were the biggest laggards. Ukrainian President Volodymyr...
Japan's Nikkei share average extended its gains from last week to end at a record high on Monday, as a weaker yen pushed automakers' stocks higher. The Nikkei rose 0.77% to 43,714.31 and the broader Topix rose 0.43% to 3,120.96. Both closed at record levels for the second straight session. Japanese shares rallied this month on renewed optimism over the domestic corporate outlook and economic growth as the impact of U.S. tariffs became clearer. "Domestic equities kept the momentum from last week. There was an expectation that foreign investors would continue buying Japanese stocks," said...