The Nikkei 225 was little changed, closing at 49,303, while the broader Topix Index edged up 0.08% to 3,341 on Tuesday, as markets stabilized after a 1.89% drop in the previous session. Market sentiment improved after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the BOJ would weigh the risks of rate increases while keeping financial conditions accommodative even after a potential hike. Sentiment was further boosted by Japanese Finance Minister Satyuki Katayama, who said there was no gap between the government and the Bank of Japan in their assessments of the economy. Gains in financials,...
The Hang Seng edged up 62 points, or 0.2%, to close at 26,095 on Tuesday, reversing prior-session losses amid gains in consumer stocks. Traders awaited insights from China's annual Central Economic Work Conference and the December Politburo meeting, while seeking opportunities in undervalued sectors. Locally, Hong Kong retail sales rose the most since late 2023 in October, marking a fourth straight monthly gain on the back of steady visitor arrivals. Early gains were trimmed as mainland markets fell, amid caution ahead of Wednesday's private Composite and Services PMIs. On the corporate...
European stocks traded in mixed territory on Tuesday, with shares struggling to find momentum after a broad sell-off marked the first day of the new month. Shortly after the opening bell, the pan-European Stoxx 600 hovered just above the flatline, with no consensus movement seen among sectors and major bourses. Regional stocks traded lower on Monday, marking a gloomy start to the last trading month of the year in which investors are now expecting the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut interest rates when it meets on Dec. 9-10. Traders are pricing in an 87.2% chance of a quarter-point rate cut,...