EUR/USD tumbles during the North American session, down 0.38% following the release of economic data from the United States (US), which triggered a reaction by investors, who trimmed their bets that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates. At the time of writing, the pair traded at 1.1598, having reached a high of 1.1642. Risk appetite improved after US President Donald Trump denied rumors that he planned to sack Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. News flows had remained light, though economic data from the US continues to justify the Fed's current stance, which most officials...
The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 0.5% to below 38,500, while the broader Topix Index fell 0.3% to 2,726 on Friday, marking a third consecutive session of declines. The pullback came as hotter-than-expected inflation figures reinforced a hawkish outlook for Bank of Japan monetary policy. Data revealed that core inflation in Japan accelerated to 3.2% in January, up from 3% in December, surpassing forecasts of 3.1%. Headline inflation also rose to 4% from 3.6%, hitting a two-year high. The benchmark indexes were further pressured this week by US President Donald Trump's tariff threats and hawkish...
US stocks slumped on Thursday after Walmart's disappointing outlook raised concerns about economic growth. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 retreated from record highs, down 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 450 points, weighing on Walmart's shares. Despite beating earnings expectations, Walmart's cautious fiscal 2026 guidance sent its shares down 6.5%, dragging down other retailers such as Target (-2%) and Costco (-2.6%). Investor sentiment was further dampened as Palantir slumped 5.3% amid reports of impending Pentagon budget cuts and its CEO's...
European stocks closed mostly lower on Thursday, pressured by a mix of corporate earnings reports as markets continued to assess the impact of potential U.S. trade barriers and higher defense spending by EU members. The euro zone STOXX 50 closed flat at 5,453, maintaining yesterday's decline from Monday's record high, while the STOXX 600 edged down 0.2% to 551. Airbus fell 2.3% after posting downbeat results and hinting it may have to delay U.S. deliveries to focus on other customers if the U.S. government follows through on tariffs. Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, reported a 40% drop in its car...
US stocks traded lower on Thursday, with the S&P 500 slipping 0.2% after reaching a new all-time high the day before, the Nasdaq losing 0.1%, and the Dow Jones dropping 170 points. Walmart shares tumbled nearly 5% after issuing weaker-than-expected fiscal 2026 guidance, despite exceeding Q4 earnings estimates. Almost all sectors traded in the red, with consumer staples emerging as the worst performer. Meanwhile, investor sentiment remained pressured by geopolitical and economic concerns, particularly fears over trade tariffs and US policy uncertainty. On the economic data front, weekly...
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.24% to close at 38,677, while the broader Topix Index dropped 1.18% to 2,735 on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session as concerns over US President Donald Trump's escalating tariff threats weighed on market sentiment. Trump recently announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on imports of autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals—sectors that are crucial to Japan's economy. In addition, minutes from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting revealed that policymakers would prefer to see further progress on inflation before making additional interest rate...
Hong Kong stocks fell on Thursday, as indications that the US Federal Reserve was in no rush to slash interest rates weighed on investor sentiment. The Hang Seng Index slid 1.6%, or 367.26 points, to end at 22,576.98. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index retreated 1.7%, or 140.54 points, to 8,322.56. US Fed officials are inclined toward keeping interest rates steady as they wait for further progress on inflation and clarity surrounding the new administration's economic policies. The interest rate is likely to be kept between 4.25%-4.5%, according to the minutes of the Fed's January...
European shares were steady on Thursday as gains in industrials and materials were offset by declines in heavyweight sectors such as energy and healthcare. The pan-European STOXX 600 index opens held its ground at 552.47 points. The benchmark index logged its worst day so far in 2025 in the previous session. The industrial goods and services sector opens rose 0.6%, led by a 5.4% jump in Schneider Electric opens after the electrical equipment maker forecast a bigger-than-expected rise in its 2025 profit margin. Source: Reuters
(Hong Kong) Morgan Stanley strategists have shifted their stance on Chinese equities, moving from long-standing scepticism to cautious optimism. This notable pivot aligns with Wall Street peers, as expectations grow for a sustainable rally driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and regulatory reforms. The firm's strategists, led by Laura Wang, now recommend an equal-weight position on Chinese stocks, forecasting the MSCI China Index to reach 77 by the end of 2025—a 22% increase from their earlier target and 4% higher than Wednesday's close. The index, which entered a bull market...
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....