The Nikkei 225 edged down 0.04% to close at 39,663, while the broader Topix fell 0.21% to 2,819 on Wednesday, as investor caution grew ahead of Japan's upcoming Upper House election. Markets remain on edge over the potential for major fiscal shifts, including speculation that the government could reduce or abolish the sales tax. Such moves have fueled a rise in Japanese government bond yields, driven by concerns over increased borrowing costs. Adding to the uncertainty, investors continued to monitor evolving trade tensions after US President Donald Trump flagged possible tariffs on...
The STOXX 50 was down 0.6% and the STOXX 600 slipped 0.3% on Wednesday, as investors focused on a fresh wave of corporate earnings. ASML Holding shares tumbled more than 6% after the company warned of no growth potential in 2026, citing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, including the risk of tariffs on new systems and parts shipped to the US and potential retaliatory measures from other countries. Despite these concerns, ASML beat Q2 estimates on both revenue and earnings. Other notable decliners included AstraZeneca (-1.3%), Siemens Energy (-1.9%), and Mercedes-Benz...
The Hang Seng Index fell 72 points, or 0.3%, to close at 24,518 on Wednesday (July 16th), down from a four-month high reached earlier in the session as traders booked profits. The decline ended a four-day winning streak, with sentiment weighed down by falling US futures prices following June inflation data, which indicated that tariffs may push prices higher and dampen expectations of a Fed rate cut. Meanwhile, President Trump said he may impose tariffs on pharmaceutical products by the end of July, with levies on semiconductors likely to follow soon after. He predicted these targeted...