Stocks in the US seesawed on Wednesday as investors reacted to the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged and Fed Chair Powell's cautious tone amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The S&P 500 finished slightly lower, the Dow lost 44 points while, the Nasdaq added 0.1%. Powell emphasized the Fed's wait-and-see stance, citing uncertainty around the inflationary effects of President Trump's tariffs and the risk of stagflation, as officials projected two rate cuts in 2025 but downgraded growth forecasts and raised inflation expectations. Markets were...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% to around 38,600, while the broader Topix index shed 0.6% to 2,791 on Thursday, ending a three-day winning streak as investors locked in profits and weighed global uncertainties. Overnight, the U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady, with policymakers taking a cautious stance amid concerns about the inflationary impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Geopolitical tensions are also adding to the pressure, as the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict raises concerns about expanding U.S. involvement in the Middle East. At home, investors are turning their...
Asia-Pacific markets fell on Thursday, as investors weighed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates steady, while the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continued to weigh on sentiment. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.74% while the Topix dropped 0.61%. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.34% and the small-cap Kosdaq was flat. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was flat. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.48% and mainland China's CSI 300 was flat. Investors also await decisions by the central banks of Taiwan and the Philippines later in the day. U.S. President Donald...