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...
The Nikkei 225 surged 1.3% above 38,000, while the broader Topix Index climbed 0.7% to 2,810 on Tuesday, with the latter approaching an eight-month high. The rally followed Wall Street's overnight gains, fueled by optimism that US President Donald Trump may take a more selective approach to tariffs. Japanese stocks also benefited from a weakening yen, which boosts the outlook for export-driven industries and makes local assets more attractive to foreign investors. Meanwhile, minutes from the Bank of Japan's January meeting indicated that policymakers remain open to further interest rate...
Asia-Pacific markets rose on Tuesday as Wall Street rallied overnight on hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs could be softer than expected. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.69% in early trade. The country's budget will be tabled by Treasurer Jim Chalmers later in the day. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 started the day up 1.15%, while the broader Topix index gained 0.91%. In South Korea, the Kospi index opened 0.61% higher and the small-cap Kosdaq gained 0.64%. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index last traded at 23,609, indicating a weaker open compared with the HSI's...
President Donald Trump on Monday said he will soon announce tariffs targeting automobiles, pharmaceuticals and other industries, signaling his plans to pile more sweeping duties on top of his forthcoming "reciprocal tariffs." "We'll be announcing cars very shortly," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting. "We already announced steel, as you know, and aluminum." "We'll be announcing pharmaceuticals at some point," he said, "because we have to have pharmaceuticals." "So we'll be announcing some of these things in the very near future, not the long future, the very near future," Trump said. Trump...
European markets closed slightly lower on Monday as optimism over the path of U.S. tariffs faded. Concluding a choppy session, the pan-European Stoxx 600 ended 0.13% lower, with Germany's DAX down 0.17%, France's CAC 40 down 0.26%, and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 down 0.1%. The travel and leisure sector was up 0.55% after London's Heathrow Airport reopened on Saturday following a power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation that disrupted Friday service. British Airways owner IAG was up 0.8%. Swedish defense firm Saab gained 4.5% after UBS upgraded its stock from neutral to...
European markets were mixed on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at tariff "flexibility." The pan-European Stoxx 600 was little-changed by 4 p.m. in London, with Germany's DAX down 0.06%, France's CAC 40 down 0.23%, and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 trading flat. The travel and leisure sector was up 0.59% after London's Heathrow Airport reopened on Saturday following a power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation that disrupted Friday service. British Airways owner IAG was up 0.9%. Swedish defense firm Saab was up 4.5% after UBS upgraded its stock from neutral to...
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...