Asia-Pacific markets traded higher, tracking Wall Street gains overnight. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.41% after hitting a fresh record high on Thursday, while the Topix added 0.61%. South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.83%, and the small-cap Kosdaq jumped 0.65%. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 added 0.41%. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 26,464, higher than its last close of 26,086.32. Equities in several parts of the world have been rallying as easing inflation pressures and expectations for U.S. rate cuts boost investor sentiment. "Momentum and the promise of...
The Federal Reserve will still be able to cut interest rates this year, with recent data supporting this outlook, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on Monday. Speaking at a conference in South Korea, Waller said that a rise in inflation from President Donald Trump's trade tariffs was unlikely to be persistent, giving the Fed more confidence to lower rates later this year. If "underlying inflation continues to make progress to our 2% goal," along with tariffs settling at lower rates and employment remaining "solid," "I would be supporting good news rate cuts later this year," Waller...
President Donald Trump said that US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will double from 25% to 50%, starting Wednesday. At a Pittsburgh rally Friday, he argued the move would strengthen the US steel industry, reduce reliance on China, and protect jobs. He also touted a $14 billion steel investment with Japan's Nippon Steel, though he later admitted he hadn't reviewed the final deal. "There will be no layoffs and no outsourcing whatsoever, and every US steelworker will soon receive a well-deserved $5,000 bonus," Trump told the crowd. Steelworkers raised concerns about how Japan would...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday accused China of breaking a recent trade agreement, only a few weeks after the two nations announced a temporary truce aimed at de-escalating tensions. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US." He added: "So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" Trump said the deal had been struck to prevent further economic deterioration in China after his administration's tariffs took effect. "We went, in effect, COLD TURKEY with China, and it was devastating for them," he said in...
The core PCE price index in the US, which excludes volatile and energy prices and is Federal Reserve's chosen gauge of underlying inflation in the US economy, went up 0.1% from the previous month in April of 2025. The result was in line with market expectations. From the previous year, the index rose by 2.5% to slow from the 2.7% jump from March, the softest increase since March of 2021. Source: Trading Economics
A federal judge needs more time to consider a motion filed by both sides of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to suspend President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariffs, according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The decision to lift the unlawful tariffs has been put on hold pending federal circuit review The U.S. appellate circuit has intervened following a ruling by the USCIT that the Trump administration misused the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose global tariffs that exceeded legal limits. The IEEPA was intended to allow...
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher, tracking Wall Street gains overnight.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.41% after hitting a fresh record high on Thursday, while the Topix added 0.61%. South...
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...
Less than four months ago, President Donald Trump met with Qatar's leader, praised his magnificent palace, and signed a comprehensive defense agreement with the Gulf monarchy, a key ally that hosts...