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 Index surged 1.2% to surpass 37,200, while the broader Topix Index gained 1% to 2,720 on Thursday, reaching their highest levels in a week. The rally mirrored Wall Street's rebound, driven by softer-than-expected US inflation data that eased market concerns about the economy. However, investor sentiment remained cautious as US President Donald Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs took effect on Wednesday, raising fears of a widening global trade war. In Japan, major firms agreed to significant wage hikes for the third consecutive year during annual spring labor negotiations,...
Asia-Pacific markets are primed to rise on Thursday after a soft inflation report in the U.S. helped two of the three benchmarks on Wall Street reverse course from two days of losses. The consumer price index — a broad-based measure of costs across the U.S. economy — increased 0.2% month-on-month in February, putting the annual inflation rate at 2.8%. Australia's S&P/ASX 20 started the day 0.20% higher, reversing course from losses in the previous two sessions. Over in Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 is set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 37,035 while its...
The Nasdaq Composite rose on Wednesday after a soft inflation report eased concerns about the economy and as investors snapped up beaten-up technology shares. The tech-heavy benchmark added 1.22% and closed at 17,648.45,while the S&P 500 gained 0.49% to end at 5,599.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 82.55 points, or 0.2%, to settle at 41,350.93. Though the tech sector is off more than 3% week to date, the cohort bounced on Wednesday to lead the S&P 500 higher. Nvidia gained 6.4%, and AMD added more than 4%. Meta Platforms advanced 2%, and Tesla jumped more than 7%. The...
The Nasdaq Composite rebounded after a soft inflation report eased concerns about the economy and as investors snapped up beaten-up technology shares. The tech-heavy index popped 1.7%. The S&P 500 added 0.9%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was trading marginally higher. Nvidia shares gained 6%, while Meta Platforms and Tesla rose 2% and 7%, respectively. The consumer price index, a broad measure of costs across the U.S. economy, increased 0.2% for the month, putting the annual inflation rate at 2.8%. This was lower than the respective Dow Jones estimates for 0.3% and 2.9%....
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell again on Wednesday as rising tensions between the U.S. and its major trading partners continued to rattle investors. The blue-chip index fell 287 points, or 0.7%. The S&P 500 traded nearly flat, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.6%. President Donald Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect Wednesday, and Canada said it would slap 25% retaliatory duties on more than $20 billion worth of U.S. goods. The European Union also responded swiftly, pledging to impose retaliatory tariffs on 26 billion euros ($28.33 billion) worth of U.S. imports...
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...