Tensions and fears are running high in Switzerland, as the deadline to strike a trade agreement with the U.S. looms just days away. Without a deal, Switzerland faces 39% duties on its goods imported into the U.S., after it was hit with one of the highest new tariff rates under U.S. President Donald Trump's latest trade policy shift last week. The higher duty surprised many, as widespread reports had previously suggested a trade agreement was near, and was just missing Trump's signature. Over the weekend, reports emerged that the higher tariffs followed a disagreeable Thursday phone call...
The Hang Seng jumped 298 points or 1.2% to close at 24,475 on Wednesday, rising for the fourth straight session and notching its highest level in over three months. The rally tracked strong gains on Wall Street, as the U.S.-brokered truce between Iran and Israel appeared to hold, with both nations signaling an end to their air strikes, at least for now. Meanwhile, Fed Chair Powell reiterated there's no need to rush rate cuts, though some analysts believe easing could come sooner if inflation remains contained. In China, Beijing unveiled new guidelines to boost consumption through financial...
European stocks edged higher on Wednesday as investors looked to a ceasefire between Israel and Iran as a sign of easing tensions. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX), was up 0.2% at 542.12 points, as of 0704 GMT. Other major regional indexes were also trading higher, except for Spain's (.IBEX), which fell 0.3%. A truce brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding on Wednesday, a day after both countries signaled that their air war was over, at least for now. Trump's Middle East envoy said late Tuesday that talks between the U.S. and Iran...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Wednesday (6/25), as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors boosted shares. At the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.40% to hit a fresh 3-month high. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. (TYO:6976), which rose 7.16% or 167.00 points to trade at 2,501.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) rose 4.08% or 66.00 points to close at 1,685.00 and SUMCO Corp. (TYO:5541) gained 4.08% or 66.00 points to close at 1,685.00. (TYO:3436) rose 3.93% or 41.50 points to close at...
Hong Kong shares rose 205 points, or 0.9%, to 24,385 in early trade on Wednesday (6/25), marking a fourth straight session of gains and maintaining a two-week high. The gains followed an overnight rally on Wall Street, which was driven by optimism that a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran would hold. Investors also cheered remarks by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell that the central bank is committed to containing inflation and will likely keep interest rates steady until the impact of tariffs becomes clearer. Sentiment was further supported by a third straight day of gains in mainland...
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Wednesday, as investors digested a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, as well as fresh comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve. There was growing optimism that a truce between Israel and Iran brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to hold. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was flat. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.31%, while the small-cap Kosdaq fell 0.21%. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.11%, while the Topix fell 0.13%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.66% and mainland China's CSI 300 was flat. U.S. futures were nearly flat. Futures tied...
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.
It...
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...
Tensions and fears are running high in Switzerland, as the deadline to strike a trade agreement with the U.S. looms just days away.
Without a deal, Switzerland faces 39% duties on its goods...