European stock markets retreated on Tuesday, pulled down by French equities as traders monitored the potential for the government to lose a confidence vote next month. France's CAC 40 index plummeted more than 2% in early deals before paring losses to around 1.6% by the end of the trading session. The country's three main opposition parties said they would not back a surprise confidence vote called by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday for Sept. 8 over his budget plans. Bayrou argues around 44 billion euros ($51 billion) in budget cuts are needed to reduce the French deficit, which...
US stocks inched lower on Tuesday, extending the slight drop from the previous session and trackingTreasury bonds amid fresh concerns over the independence of the Federal Reserve and new threats of tariffs. The three main equity indices were marginally below the flatline. President Trump started the process to fire Fed Governor Cook on allegations of mortgage fraud, extending the President's efforts to influence FOMC members amid persistent calls that interest rates should be over two percentage points lower. The dented demand for risk for equities, even if the dollar and long-maturity...
The Hang Seng Index plunged 305 points, or 1.2%, to close at 25,525 on Tuesday, after posting two consecutive days of gains amid widespread losses. Sentiment worsened after US index futures fell sharply following President Trump's firing of Fed Chair Lisa Cook and his threat of "200% tariffs" on China if rare earth magnet exports were restricted. Trump also vowed to retaliate against countries that regulate major US technology companies. The index retreated from a nearly four-year high on growing concerns that mainland Chinese stocks might weaken after a month-long rally that lifted the...
European stocks traded sharply lower on Tuesday, with the Stoxx 50 down by around 1%. French stocks tumbled as political turmoil deepened after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou called a Sept. 8 confidence vote that could topple the government. The CAC 40 fell 1.9%, dragging down European benchmarks, while the FTSE 100 slipped 0.6% on reopening after a holiday. Opposition parties, including the far-right National Rally, France Unbowed, and the Greens, vowed to vote against Bayrou, leaving the government vulnerable. Broader European markets remain under pressure from sluggish growth and...