The Hang Seng Index started the day with a 12-point rise, reaching 24,234 points before fluctuating and ultimately falling by 126 points or 0.52%, settling at 24,094 points. Concurrently, the H-share Index dropped by 60 points or 0.69% to 8,663 points, while the Technology Index decreased by 29 points or 0.56%, closing at 5,239 points. The main board saw a turnover of HKD 39.8 billion. Tech stocks showed softness with Tencent declining by 0.5%, Alibaba by 2.3%, Meituan by 2.1%, Xiaomi Corporation by 1.5%, and Kuaishou by 1.2%. In individual developments within financial stocks, HSBC...
Japanese shares ended higher on Thursday as investors awaited a key US jobs report and the outcome of a major tax and spending bill in Congress, both seen as potential triggers for Fed rate cuts. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.06%, or 23.42 points, to end at 39,785.90. Investors awaited a House vote in the US on Trump's $3.3 trillion tax and spending bill, which would cut taxes, reduce social programs, and raise the national debt. The focus also remained on US payrolls data due later in the day, with forecasts calling for a 110,000 job gain and unemployment rising to 4.3%. A surprise drop in...
European stocks edged higher on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 gaining 0.2% and the STOXX 600 rising 0.3%, extending the previous session's gains as investors continued to monitor trade developments. Sentiment was supported by news that the US has lifted certain chip design export restrictions on China, another sign of easing tensions and a potential trade truce. Semiconductor stocks responded positively, with Siemens up 1.6%, Infineon gaining 2%, and NXP Semiconductors jumping 4%. The US also reached a trade agreement with Vietnam, which includes a 20% tariff on Vietnamese...