Oil prices stabilized on Thursday (February 12th), as the market reassigned a risk premium to US-Iran tensions despite US inventory data showing swelling domestic supplies. This movement confirms one thing: geopolitical headlines are still more "noise" than signals of a short-term surplus. As of 3:50 PM WIB, Brent was at $69.60/barrel (+0.29%) and WTI was at $64.83/barrel (+0.31%). The gains were moderate, but enough to keep prices near the psychological $70 level for Brent. From a geopolitical perspective, market focus is on the potential for escalation in the Middle East. Recent reports...
The Hang Seng slipped 224 points, or 0.9%, to close early at 25,630 on the final trading day of 2025, as markets closed early ahead of the New Year. The index reversed the prior session's strength as losses spread across all sectors, with tech, consumer, and financial stocks leading the declines. Still, the index posted a second straight annual gain, climbing nearly 28% in 2025. The rally was boosted by a buoyant IPO market in Hong Kong, easing U.S. China trade tensions, and Beijing's pledge to support economic growth through proactive fiscal spending and accommodative monetary...
Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4% to 50,339 on the final trading session of 2025, weighed down by losses in metals and brokerage stocks. Despite the late pullback, the benchmark index advanced about 26% over the year, marking its third consecutive annual gain, driven largely by strength in chipmakers and construction-related shares. The broader Topix fell 0.5% to 3,409 Tuesday but still closed the year up 22% at a record year-end high, supported by a steady economic recovery, resilient earnings, and easing global trade headwinds, despite concerns over the Bank of Japan's gradual rate hikes....
The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 1% to 5,521, indicating renewed pressure on Hong Kong technology stocks in the latest trading session. This decline reflects a more cautious sentiment towards the technology sector, as the index's movement was dominated by selling in large-cap tech companies, which are typically the main movers. With this weakening, market participants will be watching to see whether the index can hold the 5,500-plus area or whether it opens up room for further correction in the near term. (asd) Source: Newsmaker.id
Asian stock markets opened with limited movement on Wednesday morning (December 31, 2025), ahead of the year's close. Most indices moved slightly and without a clear direction, reflecting the cautious attitude of investors who chose to hold off before entering the new year. Trading activity also tended to be quiet as some market participants had already begun their year-end holidays. In East Asia, the Japanese stock market saw a slight decline at the start of the session, while Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets moved mixed. Investors were still monitoring global conditions, particularly...
US stocks maintained their sluggish momentum on Tuesday afternoon, expected to close the year relatively close to recent record highs as the market assessed the prospects for strong economic growth and the Fed's interest rate cuts amid concerns about excessive valuations for AI companies. The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow held off from deviating significantly from the flatline. The minutes from the Fed's latest meeting confirmed that the FOMC was divided on how to weigh the conflicting risks of high inflation and unemployment next year, although there was broad consensus that there was...
European stocks picked up steam on Tuesday, extending gains to notch a fresh record high. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed 0.7% higher, having earlier broken through 590 points to hit a new record. The U.K.'s FTSE, France's CAC 40, and Germany's DAX all ended the session more than 0.6% higher, while Italy's FTSE MIB gained 1.2%. Mining stocks were the top performers, with London-listed Fresnillo gaining 6%. Peer miners Anglo American, Antofagasta, and Glencore rose around 3%, respectively. Precious metals, notably gold and silver, were firmly in focus for investors...
US stocks held their muted momentum on Tuesday, set to close the year relatively near recent record highs as markets assessed the outlook of robust economic growth and rate cuts by the Fed against concerns of exaggerated valuations for AI companies. The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow refrained from deviating too much from the flatline. The thin holiday trading and data schedule removed catalysts for markets, maintaining the spotlight on miners as supply concerns and speculative bets lifted copper and silver futures toward record highs, although Freeport McMoRan extended losses. In the...
The Hang Seng rose 219 points, or 0.9%, to end at 25,855 on Tuesday, reversing prior losses with broad-based sector gains. Tech stocks led the rally, up 1.7% on strong moves from SMIC (4.5%), Horizon Robotics (3.3%), Trip.com (1.9%), and Kuaishou Tech (1.0%). Consumer shares also advanced, while financials edged higher after Hong Kong's November trade data showed exports and imports rising the most in four years, underscoring firm demand both abroad and at home. Sentiment was further boosted by six Chinese firms debuting in Hong Kong, most opening above IPO prices, capping a strong year...
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....