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...
Although the outcome of ongoing trade negotiations between the U.S. and European Union remains unclear, there are risks of an escalation in tensions, according to analysts at Barclays. European trade officials met with their Trump administration counterparts in Washington this week, as a pause to sweeping "reciprocal" U.S. tariffs is due to expire on Wednesday. But a trade agreement has yet to be reached, with the EU pushing for a deal "in principle" that would include immediate tariff relief for key sectors. Media reports have suggested that a pact could see the European Commission --...
Investors will be keeping a close eye on tariff headlines out of Washington next week, as a temporary suspension of punitive import levies is set to expire. If that Wednesday deadline passes without an increase in trade tensions, it could prove positive for the markets. Negotiators from more than a dozen major U.S. trading partners are rushing to reach agreements with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration by July 9 to avoid even higher tariffs, and Trump and his team have kept up the pressure in recent days. On Wednesday, Trump announced a deal with Vietnam that he says will impose...
US President Donald Trump began a call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the latest step in his efforts to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. The call was underway, according to Russia's state-run Tass news service, which said the Kremlin would brief reporters after it was completed. Trump had announced the call earlier on social media, writing: "Will speak with President Putin of Russia at 10:00 a.m. Thank you!" The president is also likely to call his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter. The call follows the...
The ISM Services PMI rose to 50.8 in June 2025 from 49.9 in May, slightly above forecasts of 50.5. The reading showed economic activity in the services sector increased in June after just one month of contraction, although slow growth and economic uncertainty were frequently referenced by firms. A rebound was seen in business activity/production (54.2 vs 50), new orders (51.3 vs 46.4), inventories (52.7 vs 49.7) and new export orders (51.1 vs 48.5). Meanwhile, price pressure eased a bit (67.5 vs 68.7) although price increases impacting costs of operations were mentioned more frequently this...
Initial jobless claims in the US eased by 4,000 from the previous week to 233,000 on the period ending June 28th, less than market expectations of 240,000. While the figure reflected the softest increase in unemployment in six weeks, it remained firmly above averages from earlier in the year to reflect the gradual softening of the US labor market, albeit still robust in a historical standard. In turn, outstanding unemployment claims were unchanged at 1,964,000, the highest since late 2021, and above expectations of 1,960,000 to maintain the view that the unemployed are undergoing more...
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...