The Japanese yen weakened slightly during the Asian session on Wednesday, as investors remained cautious while awaiting the Bank of Japan (BoJ) policy update. Market focus now turns to the two-day BoJ meeting next Friday, which is expected to provide clues regarding the interest rate path through 2026. Expectations for a BoJ interest rate hike this week are believed to be a supportive factor for the JPY. Investors anticipate a hawkish BoJ stance could boost the yen or at least prevent further depreciation, although more cautious market sentiment has limited the currency's...
U.S. stocks extended their selloff on Friday after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warned that the economic impact of an escalating trade war could be worse than expected, as fears of a trade war rattled markets. The S&P 500 plunged nearly 6%, the Dow dropped 2,230 points, and the Nasdaq dropped 5.8%, hitting its lowest level since May. Powell cited rising risks from inflation and slower growth, while reiterating a cautious, wait-and-see stance on interest rate cuts. Market anxiety increased after China's finance minister announced 34% tariffs on all U.S. imports, mirroring President Trump's...
European stock markets closed sharply lower on Friday, with investors still reeling from the scale of U.S. tariffs announced this week. The regional Stoxx 600 index closed down 5%, marking its worst weekly loss of the year, down 8.3% from the previous week. Banks fell 8.5% after a 5.53% drop on Thursday. The sector, once seen as vulnerable to slowing growth or recession, is now seen as a much stronger possibility for both the U.S. and global economies. Banks are also "one of the slowest assets to come forward in assessing global macro issues," Bank of America strategists said Friday....
The S&P 500 dropped 2.7%, the Dow tumbled 970 points, and the Nasdaq sank 3.1% on Friday, hitting their lowest levels since last August and extending the previous session's sell-off. The trade war escalated further as China's finance minister announced a 34% tariff on all US imports, mirroring the levy imposed by President Trump on Wednesday. Investor anxiety is mounting over the economic fallout, with many economists warning of higher prices, slower growth, and a potential recession. On the data front, payrolls rose way more than expected, continuing to point to a healthy labour...
Major bourses in Europe extended their losses on Friday, with the STOXX 50 dropping 0.9% and the STOXX 600 falling 1%, reaching their lowest levels since mid-January. This extended the sharp sell-off from the previous session, when the benchmarks tumbled 3.7% and 2.7%, respectively. Investor sentiment remains cautious following the Trump administration's tariff announcement. In response, the EC has stated it is preparing countermeasures, French President Macron urged French companies to halt planned investments in the US and Germany's outgoing economy minister predicted that Trump would...
Japan stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Transport and Communication sectors led shares lower. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 2.80% to hit a new 6-months low. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Nitori Holdings Co Ltd (TYO:9843), which rose 5.30% or 780.00 points to trade at 15,510.00 at the close. Meanwhile, KDDI Corp. (TYO:9433) added 4.70% or 107.00 points to end at 2,382.50 and Secom Co., Ltd. (TYO:9735) was up 4.33% or 215.00 points to 5,178.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were...
The Nikkei 225 fell 2% to around 34,000, while the broader Topix Index dropped 2.3% to 2,510 on Friday, extending losses from the previous session and hitting their lowest levels in about eight months. Japanese shares also tracked a sharp selloff on Wall Street overnight which wiped out $4 trillion in market value as US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs stoked fears of an all-out trade war and a global recession. The tariffs—including a 24% levy on Japanese imports and a 25% tariff on car shipments—have dealt a significant blow to Japan's export-heavy economy, particularly its...
Asia-Pacific markets extended declines on Friday, tracking steep losses on Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs rattled global markets. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.06%. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.84% while the Topix declined 2.35%. South Korea's Kospi lost 1.15% and the small-cap Kosdaq traded 0.68% lower.Hong Kong and China markets are closed for the Qingming Festival. A verdict by South Korea's Constitutional Court to remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected later Friday. Should he be removed from office, it will trigger a 60-day countdown where an...
US equities saw their sharpest decline in more than two years on Thursday, as major stock indexes suffered steep losses. The S&P 500 plunged 4.8%, wiping out about $2 trillion in market value, marking its biggest decline since 2020. The Dow dropped nearly 1,680 points, while the Nasdaq dropped 5.9%. Investors were rattled by the looming threat of President Trump's new tariff plans, which could trigger global retaliation and potentially harm economic growth. Technology stocks led the selloff, with Apple falling 9% and Nvidia dropping 7.8%, while big-box retailers Nike (-13%) and Dollar...
Gold rises in the early Asian trade. There's a broad commodities uptrend, driven by macro uncertainty, a weaker dollar, and persistent demand for "hard" assets, says Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst...
Oil extended declines after OPEC+ agreed to a bigger-than-expected production increase next month, raising concerns about oversupply just as US tariffs fan fears about the demand outlook.
Brent...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened against its US counterpart and reversed part of Friday's recovery from the lowest level since July 23 following Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda's remarks....