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...
Stocks in Europe were higher on Tuesday, with both the STOXX 50 adding 0.3% and the STOXX 600 rising about 0.7%, as optimism grew over a potential pause in auto tariffs and the earnings season gained momentum. Investor sentiment was buoyed by President Trump's remarks on Monday, indicating he is considering temporary exemptions on tariffs for imported vehicles and parts to give automakers more time to expand US-based production. The auto sector led the gains, with Mercedes-Benz climbing 2.9%, BMW 2.5%, Volkswagen 2.8%, Stellantis 4.3%, and Renault 1.9%. Other sectors also traded in...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Tuesday (4/15), as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors helped stocks advance. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.89%. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Yokogawa Electric Corp. (TYO:6841), which rose 7.41% or 208.00 points to trade at 3,014.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Denso Corp. (TYO:6902) rose 5.64% or 94.00 points to close at 1,761.00 and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. (TYO:5802) gained 5.27% or 107.50 points to 2,148.00 at the close. The worst performers on the session were Shiseido Co., Ltd. (TYO:4911),...
Hong Kong stocks were little changed in early trade on Tuesday (4/15), hovering near 21,420, as gains in property and consumer discretionary stocks were offset by losses in technology and financials. Traders weighed the impact of a temporary US tariff exemption on popular electronics, announced by President Trump last Friday, while weighing the possibility of fresh levies, including on semiconductors, in the coming weeks. Investors also awaited key Chinese economic data due later in the week, including Q1 GDP, industrial production, retail sales and the unemployment rate. Meanwhile, the...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 1% to above 34,300 while the broader Topix Index added 1.2% to 2,518 on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session and taking cues from a strong lead on Wall Street overnight. Major US stock indexes advanced on Monday as President Donald Trump exempted key electronic products from his reciprocal tariffs, while also reportedly considering pausing his 25% levies on auto imports. However, caution lingered as the US Commerce Department launched a national security investigation into semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports, keeping global markets on alert....
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Tuesday after all three major benchmarks on Wall Street rose on a tech rally. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index opened the day up 1.04%, while the broader Topix index gained 1.14%. In South Korea, the Kospi index rose 0.39% at the open, while the small-cap Kosdaq index fell 0.32%. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.15% in early trade. Futures on Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were at 21,585, indicating a stronger open compared with the HSI's last close of 21,417.40. India is expected to release March inflation figures later in the day....
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...