Investors cheered Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's Jackson Hole address, which gave a green light to buy risky assets on the hope the central bank is ready to cut rates, but took his dovish message with a note of caution as they see a risk of stagflation ahead and worry markets are over-optimistic. In his final address as Fed chair at the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, economic symposium, Powell hinted at a September interest rate cut but stopped short of committing, striking a careful balance between mounting job-market risks and lingering inflation worries. The speech on Friday came amid...
European markets opened lower on Friday, as investors assessed the latest economic data and the future path to cut interest rates following hawkish comments from US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 0.8% in early trade, with all major bourses and nearly all sectors in the red. Healthcare stocks fell 1.72%, tracking a broader decline for global vaccine makers, as investors weighed President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Technology stocks also fell 1.36%, while utilities were...
The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.1% to above 38,900 while the broader Topix Index gained 1% to 2,728 on Friday (11/15), with Japanese shares snapping a three-day slide as solid GDP data lifted market sentiment. Japan's economy expanded 0.3% year-on-year in the third quarter, ending two straight quarters of declines amid further gains in private consumption and government spending. Local shares also benefited from a sharply weaker yen that boosted the profit outlook for Japan's export-driven industries. Meanwhile, investors remained cautious after U.S. Fed Chair Powell said that strong U.S. economic...
Hong Kong's shares rose 97 points or 0.5% to 19,532 in early trade on Friday, ending losses in the prior five months amid gains across all sectors. Traders digested activity data from China showing retail turnover rose to an eight-month high in October and the jobless rate fell to a four-month low. Nevertheless, industrial output in the mainland grew less than expected. Also supporting sentiment were hopes of favorable outcomes from the Chinese central government's work forum and a Politburo meeting in December. Cathay Pacific jumped over 9%, on a plan to repurchase convertible bonds. Other...
The Shanghai Composite fell 1.73% to close at 3,380 while the Shenzhen Component dropped 2.83% to 11,038 on Thursday, giving back gains from the previous session amid a lack of market-moving news.Sentiment was cautious as investors continued to weigh the potential impact of US President-elect Donald Trump's trade policies and the appointment of anti-China figures on China's economy and markets.Additionally, Beijing's latest support measures to bolster the struggling economy failed to impress.Despite the finance ministry unveiling tax incentives for home and land transactions on Wednesday,...
The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.1% to above 38,900 while the broader Topix index rose 1% to 2,728 on Friday, with Japanese shares snapping a three-day slide as solid GDP data lifted market sentiment. Japan's economy expanded 0.3% year-on-year in the third quarter, ending two straight quarters of declines amid further improvements in private consumption and government spending. Local shares also benefited from a sharply weaker yen that boosted the profit outlook for Japan's export-driven industries. Meanwhile, investors remained cautious after U.S. Fed Chair Powell said that strong U.S. economic...
President Donald Trump said he would fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors if she does not resign her post over mortgage-fraud accusations from a top...
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained its cash rate at 4.1% during its April meeting, holding borrowing costs unchanged after slashing 25 bps in the February meeting, aligning with market...