US consumer sentiment fell to 58.6 in August from 61.7—the first decline since April. The University of Michigan survey was conducted July 29–August 11, with tariff concerns again weighing on confidence. Full-year inflation expectations rose to 4.9%, while the 5–10-year forecast was 3.9%. Both were worse than economists' forecasts. Job concerns also increased: 62% of respondents predicted unemployment would rise. 58% planned to cut back on spending (cars, household goods, dining out), and durable goods purchasing conditions fell to their lowest in a year. Meanwhile, retail sales continued...
European markets closed higher on Monday, as investors digested a slew of key earnings and data releases in both Europe and the U.S. this week. The Stoxx 600 closed provisionally higher by 0.5%, with travel and banking sectors leading gains. Regionally, the FTSE 100 closed up 0.02% — its 11th straight day of gains and its best gain since late 2019. France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX rose 0.5% and 0.06%, respectively. Top posts Deliveroo shares jump after DoorDash bid as company suspends share buybacks | see post Mediobanca makes $7.2 billion takeover bid for Banca Generali | see...
The three major averages in the US kickstarted the week in the green with the S&P adding around 0.3%, Dow Jones adding 200 points and the Nasdaq swinging between small gains and losses, amid a confluence of earnings optimism, softer borrowing costs and manageable commodity prices provided support. Anticipation of upside surprises from mega cap tech names—Microsoft, Apple and Amazon are widely expected to report strong top- and bottom-line beats alongside aggressive share-buyback and dividend plans—helped offset lingering trade-war jitters following conflicting U.S. and Chinese...
The Hang Seng finished flat at around 21,981 on Monday, as traders digested a key press briefing in China following Friday's Politburo meeting. Officials promised to support exporters and workers affected by U.S. tariffs while preparing contingency plans for the broader Chinese economy. The muted session followed modest losses in early trade, with strength in financials and tech offsetting weakness in property and consumers, after Beijing refrained from rolling out fresh stimulus, indicating that further actions would be launched as the situation evolves. Meanwhile, U.S. futures fell...
Japan stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.35%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (TYO:4063), which rose 6.60% or 267.00 points to trade at 4,313.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (TYO:9009) added 4.77% or 68.50 points to end at 1,505.50 and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co (TYO:6305) was up 4.32% or 176.00 points to 4,252.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session...
European stocks rose on Monday, with the Stoxx 50 up 0.2% and the Stoxx 600 up 0.5%, and all sectors in positive territory, as investors prepared for a busy week of earnings and data from Europe and the US. Automotive and banking stocks led gains, both climbing 0.7%. Key earnings are expected from Porsche, Schneider Electric, and Deutsche Boerse. Meanwhile, signs of easing global trade tensions supported sentiment, with President Trump signaling openness to lowering Chinese tariffs and Beijing exempting certain US goods from its 125% levies. In corporate news, Italy's Mediobanca (+0.8%)...
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...
President Donald Trump said he would set levies on semiconductors in the coming two weeks, the latest indication he's readying a substantial expansion of his tariff regime.
"I'll be...