European stocks were mixed on Wednesday as regional market attention focused on an upcoming no-confidence vote in the French parliament, the National Assembly. The vote is expected to take place tonight after lawmakers debated two motions of no confidence, brought by the left-wing New Popular Front alliance and the right-wing National Rally party, against Prime Minister Michel Barnier's minority government. The motions came after Barnier used special constitutional powers on Monday to push through a disputed budget bill without a parliamentary vote. The National Rally has said it will...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Banking, Insurance and Transportation Equipment sectors boosted shares. At the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.06%. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. (TYO:3099), which rose 6.41% or 142.50 points to close at 2,366.00 at the close of trading. Meanwhile, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7012) rose 5.77% or 344.00 points to close at 6,302.00 and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7011) gained 4.76% or 108.50 points to close at 2,388.00 in the last trading...
The Hang Seng ended the session with little move on Wednesday, closing around 19,742 after rising in the previous three sessions. Traders digested private survey data that showed an unexpected slowdown in China's services activity last month, despite a series of support measures since September. In Hong Kong, private sector activity grew for a second straight month, albeit at a slower pace. Market participants were warily watching political developments in South Korea, where a brief declaration of martial law led to opposition calls for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. On the...