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...
Hong Kong stocks jumped 542 points, or 2.6%, to 21,461 on Monday morning, rising for a fifth straight session and hitting a two-month high. The surge followed the Trump administration's pause on tariffs on Chinese electronics imports, boosting investor sentiment. The market also reacted positively to the latest data showing China's new yuan loans jumped to CNY3.64 trillion in March from CNY1,010 billion in February, well above expectations, driven by strong growth in household and corporate lending. However, the gains were tempered by comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who...
Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Monday, led by iPhone-linked shares after the United States exempted smartphones and other electronics from high tariffs. As of 0218 GMT, the Nikkei was up 1.5% at 34,086.16, after rising as much as 2.22% earlier in the session. The broader Topix gained 1.45% to 2,502.86. "The market is still being influenced by various headlines," said Yugo Tsuboi, chief strategist at Daiwa Securities. "And none of them are good enough to encourage investors to take their positions with confidence." The Trump administration has exempted smartphones, computers and...
Asia-Pacific markets rose on Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump halted tariffs on some consumer electronics, boosting risk sentiment. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 1.37% while the broader Topix index gained 1.41%. In South Korea, the Kospi index rose 0.88% while the small-cap Kosdaq index gained 1.46%. Mainland China's CSI 300 index rose 0.57% at the open while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1.93%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200, meanwhile, rose 1%. Indian markets were closed for a public holiday. Trump exempted smartphones and computers as well as other devices and...
US stocks rose on Friday, ending a turbulent week on a positive note, as optimism grew over a potential U.S.-China trade deal. The S&P 500 rose 1.8%, the Nasdaq gained 2%, while the Dow gained 618 points. Sentiment improved after comments from the White House that President Trump was "optimistic" China would work toward a deal with the U.S. Trade tensions escalated when President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, prompting retaliatory measures from China, which raised its duties on U.S. imports to 125%. On the data front, a University of Michigan survey showed consumer...
European stock markets reversed early gains to close lower, capping a turbulent week dominated by escalating trade tensions between the US and China, which reignited fears of a global recession and triggered an aggressive pivot away from US assets. The STOXX 50 fell 0.6% and the broader STOXX 600 slipped 0.2%. China's finance ministry announced additional tariffs of 125% on U.S. goods, in response to President Trump's decision a day earlier to raise levies on Chinese imports to 145%. In Europe, the EU temporarily suspended its planned retaliatory tariffs for a 90-day period, mirroring...
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...