The Nikkei 225 index closed higher on Friday, December 19, 2025, rising by around 1.16% to 49,568. This gain attracted attention because it occurred amidst news of a Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate hike, which typically depresses the stock market. The key factor: although the BOJ raised interest rates 25 bps to 0.75%, its policy tone remained cautious and gradual, so the market assessed that further increases would not be aggressive. This meant that investors felt the risk of a "painful" tightening for the economy was not yet too great. Furthermore, the yen's weakening following the...
European stocks opened mixed on Friday (December 19th), as investors digested a number of interest rate decisions and awaited crucial budget talks in France. Regional investors were shaken by a day full of central bank decisions, with Thursday bringing monetary policy updates from the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the Norges Bank, and the Riksbank. All but the Bank of England, which cut interest rates by 25 basis points, kept their key rates unchanged. The ECB raised its economic growth outlook for the eurozone, saying it now expects growth of up to 1.4% in 2025 and 1.2% in...
The Hang Seng Index rose 192 points, or 0.75%, to end at 25,690 on Friday, extending its gains for a third session as all major sectors advanced. Sentiment was boosted by continued gains in mainland China's stock market amid reports that ByteDance had reached an agreement with three major investors to form a joint venture to operate the TikTok app in the US, aiming to avoid a potential ban. Hopes for fresh stimulus from Beijing before the end of the year also supported the market, while traders awaited the upcoming People's Bank of China (PBOC) interest rate decision. Man Wah Holdings...