The Australian dollar (AUD) strengthened against the US dollar (USD) this morning after the latest inflation data from the TD Securities–Melbourne Institute (TD-MI) showed a higher-than-expected surge in consumer prices. The monthly inflation index rose 0.4% in September, reversing from a 0.3% decline in the previous month. Annually, inflation now stands at 3%, slightly above the upper end of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) target range of 2–3%. This rise in inflation has fueled speculation that the RBA may reconsider its cautious stance on interest rates. Although the RBA held its...
The Hang Seng Index weakened 38 points, or 0.15%, to close at 25,524 on Tuesday (July 29th), reversing gains from the previous session as most sectors declined. Traders are increasingly cautious about the potential negative impact of the US-EU trade deal, including its implications for growth and inflation. Meanwhile, President Trump raised global tariffs by 15% to 20% for non-negotiating partners, a level not seen since the Great Depression. Profit-taking also weighed after benchmark indexes in Hong Kong and China recently hit multi-year highs. However, the benchmark indexes pared earlier...
European stocks traded higher on Tuesday, with the STOXX 50 rising 0.5% and the STOXX 600 up 0.3%, rebounding from losses in the previous session as investor focus shifted to corporate earnings. Philips led the gains, jumping around 10% after raising its full-year guidance. Shares of EssilorLuxottica also climbed over 5% after the company reported a rise in first-half operating profit despite facing tariff-related headwinds. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca added 0.6% following its earnings release, and Barclays posted better-than-expected profits and announced a £1 billion share buyback. However,...
Japan stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Transport and Communication sectors led shares lower. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 declined 0.77%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Otsuka Holdings Ltd (TYO:4578), which rose 3.04% or 213.00 points to trade at 7,223.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Recruit Holdings Co Ltd (TYO:6098) added 2.21% or 200.00 points to end at 9,250.00 and Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) was up 2.20% or 40.00 points to 1,861.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Lasertec...
Hong Kong shares fell 282 points or 1.1% to 25,277 in early trade Tuesday, pulling back from Monday's gains as all sectors retreated. Investors reacted to weak June trade data in the city, showing the slowest growth in exports and imports in five months on softening global and domestic demand as trade risks mounted. Some traders took profits after the Hang Seng revisited near four-year highs while Wall Street ended mixed overnight. Sentiment was further weighed by caution ahead of key U.S. events this week, including the Fed's rate decision and inflation readings. In China, July PMI data...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.9% to below 40,700, while the broader Topix Index declined 0.8% to 2,908 on Tuesday, marking a third straight session of losses for Japanese equities. The initial optimism from recent trade agreements began to wane, and investors turned their focus to the ongoing US-China trade talks in Stockholm. Attention also shifted to a busy week of domestic corporate earnings, with major firms such as Advantest, Keyence, Tokyo Electron, Nintendo, ANA Holdings, and Japan Airlines scheduled to report. Technology stocks led the retreat, with notable losses from Disco (-1.4%),...
Asia-Pacific markets fell as investors awaited the outcome of the ongoing U.S.-China trade talks. Investors also await the result of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting due Wednesday stateside, where it will make a decision on whether to cut interest rates. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open lower, with the futures contract in Chicago at 40,920 while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 40,820, against the index's last close of 40,998.27. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index stood at 25,367, pointing to a weaker open compared with the HSI's last close of...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) tested all-new record highs early Monday, clipping into the high side in early trading before the weight of the upcoming week pushed investors back into familiar territory. A handful of Magnificent Seven (Mag7) companies will be posting their latest quarterly earnings this week, adding further high-impact events to an already burgeoning data docket. Dow Jones price forecastThe Dow Jones clipped a record high in intraday trading on Monday, tapping 45,130 for the first time ever before slumping back into last week's congestion. The DJIA is now battling...
Europe's Stoxx 600 index erased earlier gains to close 0.23% lower as investors turned less positive over the details of the U.S.-EU trade deal. Autos was among the worst-performing sectors, down 1.8%, as industry bosses warned that while manufacturers have regained some certainty, they will be left facing substantially higher costs. Brewing giant Heineken dropped 8.45% after reporting lower beer sales in the first half and flagging "softening sentiment in Europe and the Americas." Oil and gas stocks meanwhile finished 1.16% higher on broader optimism over the global trade outlook, and as...
Gold (XAU/USD) is extending its decline on Wednesday for a second consecutive day as the US Dollar (USD) and US Treasury yields firm ahead of the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)...
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....