Australia's central bank cuts interest rate for the first time in more than four yearsThe Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut benchmark interest rates for the first time in over four years, joining ranks with other major global central banks, as softening inflation allows room for easing policy. The RBA cut rates by 25 basis points to 4.10%. This marked the RBA's first easing since November 2020, when the central bank cut its key rate to a record low, as it battled a slowing economy during the pandemic. The central bank had held its policy rate steady at 4.35% since November 2023,...
Hang Seng Index opened higher by 48 points at 22,664 before extending its rally, climbing as much as 418 points to reach an intraday high of 23,034. By late morning, the index was up 406 points, or 1.79%, at 23,022, with turnover on the main board totalling HK$1.168 billion. At 10.50am local time, the index was trading at 22,951.64, up 335.41 points or 1.48%. Technology stocks led the charge, with Tencent rising 2.3%, Alibaba surging 4.6%, Meituan gaining 1.6%, Xiaomi climbing 5.9%, JD.com up 1%, and Kuaishou advancing 4.1%. Financial stocks also supported the market's momentum, with HSBC...
European futures hit record peaks on Tuesday as defence stocks soared on expectations of a spending bump, while Hong Kong shares were on the verge of three-year highs as investors cheered business leaders' meeting with President Xi Jinping. Australia's central bank began its rate cut cycle, as expected, and the Australian dollar found support at $0.6350 as a cut came with caution on further easing. S&P 500 futures were up 0.2% and European futures were up 0.1%. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.5% with bank and defence-related shares taking cues from Europe's rally. On Monday, the pan-European...