The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.25% to 39,900, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.2% to 2,725 in mixed trading on Wednesday, as Japanese stocks struggled for direction following a one-day holiday. Market sentiment was influenced by mixed results on Wall Street, amid President Trump's latest tariff escalation and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments suggesting the central bank is in no rush to cut interest rates further. In Japan, investors turned their attention to upcoming economic data, with machinery tool orders due Wednesday and producer inflation data expected Thursday. Among...
Shares in Hong Kong soared 394 points or 1.8% to 21,685 in early trade on Wednesday, swinging from a 1.0% fall in the previous session amid solid gains across sectors. The Hang Seng touched its highest level in four months following a pledge from China's cabinet to spur spending and lure foreign investment ahead of an annual legislative gathering in March. In the US, Fed Chair Powell told Congress on Tuesday that the central bank is in no rush to cut borrowing costs and that it would be unwise to speculate on tariff policy at this time. Capping further gains was news that US President Trump...
Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose Wednesday as investors digested U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff impact on regional economies. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, meanwhile, re-emphasized on Tuesday the central bank's focus on curbing inflation and signaled that policymakers were not in a rush to push interest rates lower. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded up 0.31%. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.21% after resuming trading following a holiday, while the Topix slid 0.22%. South Korea's Kospi added 0.29% and the small-cap Kosdaq lost 0.36%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 2.05% while...