The ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 48 in July 2025 from 49 in June, missing expectations of a rise to 49.5. This figure marked the fifth consecutive month of contraction in the manufacturing sector and was the weakest since October of last year. The largest negative contributions came from declines in supplier deliveries (45.7 vs. 46.7) and employment (43.4 vs. 45.0). On the positive side, production increased (51.4 vs. 50.3), while declines in new orders (47.1 vs. 46.4) and backlogs (46.8 vs. 44.3) eased. Price pressures also eased, with the price index falling to 64.8 from 69.7. Source:...
The European stock markets closed lower in Thursday trading as the FTSE 100 in London slid 0.05%, Germany's DAX dropped 0.73%, France's CAC 40 fell 1.14%, The Stoxx Europe 600 slipped 0.71%, and the Swiss Market Index lost 0.8%. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the eurozone stood at 6.2% in June, unchanged from a revised figure in May, according to Eurostat data. In Germany, import prices dropped 1.4% year-over-year in June after a 1.1% fall in May, according to the country's Federal Statistical Office. German import prices were unchanged on a monthly basis. In corporate news,...
The Hang Seng Index plunged 404 points, or 1.6%, to close at 24,773 on Thursday (July 31), marking its third consecutive decline and its lowest close in two weeks. Sentiment worsened after China's official PMI showed services activity grew at its slowest pace in eight months and factory output fell the most in six months, amid rising trade barriers and extreme weather. Meanwhile, US President Trump's "reciprocal" tariff suspension is set to expire on Friday, with only eight trade deals reached in the past 120 days. On the monetary front, Fed Chairman Powell dismissed expectations of a...
Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 rose 0.3% on Thursday (July 31st), as corporate earnings remained in focus. Shell shares rose 2.9% after reporting a profit decline that still beat expectations, while Unilever rose 0.2% on stronger-than-expected sales. Upbeat earnings from Microsoft and MetaTrader also supported sentiment, lifting SAP (+1.8%) and ASML Holding (+1.4%). Meanwhile, Sanofi shares fell 2.2% after its earnings missed, and AB InBev shares plunged nearly 10% after the world's largest brewer reported declining volumes, particularly in Brazil and China. Credit Agricole fell 1.7% as...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 1.02% to close at 41,070, while the broader Topix Index gained 0.81% to 2,944 on Thursday, recovering losses from earlier in the week after the Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged in a unanimous decision, as widely expected. This marks the fourth consecutive meeting the BOJ has paused following its 25 basis-point hike to 0.5% in January. Japanese stocks also took cues from stronger US futures, supported by upbeat earnings from tech giants Meta Platforms and Microsoft. Meanwhile, investors continued to watch trade developments after the US finalized a...
(Hong Kong) On the final trading day of July, the Hang Seng Index opened 194 points, or 0.77%, lower at 24,982. The China Enterprises Index fell by 61 points, or 0.68%, to 8,976, while the Technology Index declined 31 points, or 0.58%, to 5,458. WuXi AppTec saw its share price drop 4% after a discounted share placement. Technology stocks broadly weakened, with Meituan leading the decline, falling 3.06%. Alibaba slipped 0.95%, Xiaomi Group dropped 0.82%, Trip.com Group eased 0.57%, and Tencent edged down 0.36%. Financial stocks also displayed weakness. HSBC Holdings extended its losses by...
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
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Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
The U.S. will levy a 30% tariff on South African exports next week, after Pretoria failed to reach a trade deal before President Donald Trump's deadline. The new rate is part of a broader executive...