Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Wednesday, tracking declines in two key Wall Street benchmarks overnight after the U.S. consumer confidence survey came in much weaker than economists' estimates. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 and Topix were in negative territory for the second consecutive day. The Nikkei 225 fell 1.09%, while the broader Topix index was down 0.99% South Korea's Kospi rose 0.11% while the small-cap Kosdaq advanced 0.52%. Mainland China's CSI300 index started the day 0.16% higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 1.71% at the open. The Asian financial hub's annual...
The Hang Seng surged 754 points, or 3.3%, to close at a more than three-year high of 23,788 on Wednesday, rebounding sharply from the previous session's decline. The rally came as investors reacted positively to Hong Kong's 2024-25 budget, in which Financial Secretary Paul Chan unveiled plans to curb public spending and raise revenue to narrow the fiscal deficit. Meanwhile, payroll taxes and corporate profits taxes will be completely waived, with certain restrictions. Sentiment was further boosted by reports that Chinese lawmakers are reviewing a draft law introducing new safeguards against...
The STOXX 50 rose 0.6% and the STOXX 600 gained 0.5% on Wednesday, rebounding from a lackluster session the previous day. Investors focused on corporate earnings and monitored a minerals deal between Ukraine and the US aimed at developing Ukraine's natural resources, an agreement that could help ease recent tensions between the two countries. Mining companies led the gains, supported by a rise in copper prices after US President Donald Trump signaled potential import tariffs on the metal. The food and beverages sector also advanced. On the earnings front, Anheuser-Busch InBev surged over 7%...