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 rose in a choppy session on Monday, helped by a rally in tech names following a surprise U.S. tariff exemption from President Donald Trump. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 312.08 points, or 0.78%, to close at 40,524.79. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.64% to end at 16,831.48, while the S&P 500 added 0.79% and settled at 5,405.97. All three indexes at times traded in negative territory during the turbulent session. Investors cheered Trump's exemption of smartphones and computers, as well as other devices and components such as semiconductors, from his new "reciprocal" tariffs,...
US stocks were higher on Monday as markets reconsidered concerns around uncertain trade policy passed by the Trump Presidential administration. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained over 1% each and the Dow was 350 points higher. The White House paused the aggressive tariffs on computers and electronics from their reciprocal tariff package, including those on China, but Trump clarified that the temporary relief was only announced because sector-specific tariffs on computers and semiconductors will be placed shortly after. The moves extended the constantly-changing trade policy that has...
The Hang Seng jumped 503 points or 2.4% to end at 21,417 on Monday, marking its second straight session of gains and the highest close in two months. Broad-based buying boosted sentiment, with the tech sector up 2.3%, after the Trump administration granted tariff exclusions on tech goods —most of which are imported from China. Traders largely ignored the possibility that new US tariffs, including on chips, may be imposed in the coming weeks or months. Optimism was also supported by Beijing's ongoing efforts to calm its domestic markets, including a cap on daily net sales by individual...
European stocks started the week on a strong note, with the STOXX 50 climbing 2.1% and the STOXX 600 gaining 1.9%, as traders reacted positively to President Trump's late-Friday announcement of a temporary pause on reciprocal tariffs for a range of tech and consumer electronics. The pause includes the baseline 10% tariff on all countries although a 20% tariff on Chinese goods remains in effect. Trump also said he will still apply tariffs to phones, computers and popular consumer electronics and that details on a tariff rate for semiconductors would be announced soon. Leading the gains were...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Monday (4/14), as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors helped stocks advance. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was up 1.27%. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. (TYO:6976), which rose 6.01% or 120.00 points to close at 2,116.00. Meanwhile, Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:6770) rose 5.96% or 79.00 points to close at 1,405.00 and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TYO:6976) gained 1.27%. (TYO:4519) rose 5.03% or 316.00 points to close at 6,602.00 in the last trade. The worst performers on the session were...
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...