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 Hong Kong stock market was little changed on Thursday morning deals, after closing slightly lower the day before. The Hang Seng hovered around 24,516 in a choppy session, with modest gains in property and financial stocks offset by subdued performance in tech and consumers. Meanwhile, U.S. futures fell notably after overnight Wall Street gains, as sentiment shifted despite President Trump's assurance that he has no plans to remove Fed Chair Powell. On the trade front, Trump announced plans to issue a single letter to over 150 countries, detailing the tariff rates they would face. He...
Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Thursday, with investors assessing the fall in Japan's exports for the second consecutive month, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump's denial of his intent to fire Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chairman. The U.S. President on Wednesday denied the possibility of such a move, hours after he told a room full of Republican lawmakers that he would fire Powell. "We're not planning on doing it," he said at a meeting with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the White House. "I don't rule out anything," he added, "but I think it's highly...
The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 0.5% to around 39,439, while the broader Topix Index fell 0.1% to 2,816 during Thursday morning trading, as traders remained cautious after US President Trump signaled his intention to impose a 25% tariff on Japan. The index hit its lowest level in over three weeks, after being flat in the previous session. Caution was also built ahead of Japan's upcoming Upper House election on July 20. The latest trade data further pressured sentiment, as the trade surplus narrowed in June compared to the same month last year. Exports unexpectedly fell, while imports rose...
Stocks in the US closed higher on Wednesday after President Trump denied plans to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, though he stopped short of ruling it out entirely. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3%, while the Dow rose 231 points and the Nasdaq 100 edged up 0.1% to mark fresh record close. Markets had initially dipped on reports suggesting Trump was weighing Powell's removal, compounding investor concerns over persistent inflation and ongoing trade tensions. June's flat Producer Price Index provided some relief after Tuesday's hotter-than-expected CPI reading, which showed the fastest...
US stocks edged higher Wednesday afternoon after President Trump denied plans to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, though he stopped short of ruling it out entirely. The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, rebounding from earlier losses, while the Dow gained 150 points and the Nasdaq 100 added 0.1%. Markets initially dropped on reports that Trump was considering Powell's removal, adding to existing anxiety over sticky inflation and trade tensions. The Producer Price Index came in flat for June, offering some relief after Tuesday's hotter-than-expected CPI report, which showed the fastest annual...
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...