Hong Kong stocks rose 189 points, or 0.7%, to 26,626 in early trade on Wednesday, rebounding from a muted close the day before as gains in tech and consumer shares lifted sentiment. The benchmark index hit its highest in over four years ahead of a widely expected Fed rate cut later in the day and the prospect of further easing this year. Investors also awaited Friday's call between President Trump and Xi Jinping after Washington and Beijing agreed on a framework to place TikTok under U.S.-controlled ownership. Optimism over China's progress in AI, semiconductors, and drug innovation also...
The Nikkei 225 Index slipped 0.25% to 44,790 while the broader Topix Index fell 0.71% to 3,146 on Wednesday, retreating from record highs after weak trade data raised concerns over Japan's export-dependent economy. Exports edged down 0.1% in August, a smaller decline than expected but the fourth straight monthly drop, led by a 13.8% plunge in shipments to the US. Imports contracted 5.2%, moderating from July's 7.4% fall but still above the 4.1% drop forecast by analysts. Japanese stocks also tracked overnight losses on Wall Street as investors grew cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's...
European stocks steadied after the previous day's decline, as investors cautiously awaited the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision later in the day. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was 0.1% higher by 8:12 a.m. in London, after it fell the most in two weeks on Tuesday with tariff concerns back into focus. UK shares edged higher as data showed that inflation held at the highest level in more than one-and-a-half years in August. Fed officials are expected to lower interest rates for the first time this year to backstop a faltering US labor market. Focus will be...