Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday he continues to believe the U.S. central bank should cut interest rates at the end of this month amid mounting risks to the economy and the strong likelihood that tariff-induced inflation will not drive a persistent rise in price pressures. "It makes sense to cut the FOMC's policy rate by 25 basis points two weeks from now," Waller told a gathering of the Money Marketeers of New York University. "I see the hard and soft data on economic activity and the labor market as consistent: The economy is still growing, but its momentum...
Hong Kong stocks fell 52 points or 0.2% to 23,161 in early deals on Wednesday, reversing a modest gain in the previous session amid losses in most sectors. Investors took a cautious stance ahead low as US futures drifted lower. Uncertainty also grew over China's policy stimulus, raising concerns about whether it would be timely and sufficient to counter escalating trade pressures. Goldman Sachs analysts warned that China's manufacturing activity could face pressures in the coming months due to additional trade barriers. Locally, Hong Kong's retail sales plunged 15.0% yoy in February,...
Asia-Pacific markets opened slightly higher Wednesday as investors brace for U.S. President Donald Trump to roll out fresh tariffs this week. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.06%, while the Topix declined 0.3%. South Korea's Kospi added 0.14% and the small-cap Kosdaq inched up 0.12%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.63% higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures last traded at 23,150, lower than the HSI's Tuesday close of 23,206.64. U.S. stock futures moved higher as Wall Street awaits the expected rollout of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Wednesday. Overnight in the U.S., the three...
Wall Street major averages closed a volatile session mixed on Tuesday, as investors awaited clarity from President Trump regarding his upcoming tariff policy. The S&P 500 rose by 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.9%, while the Dow Jones finished marginally in the red. Consumer discretionary stocks, including Tesla and Nike, led the day's gains. The market remained under pressure from weaker-than-expected economic data, including a disappointing manufacturing survey with price pressures at their highest since 2022 and job openings below forecasts. The White House confirmed that reciprocal...
European markets rebounded on Tuesday, with the Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 rising over 1%, recovering from a four-session losing streak. This comes after both indexes fell about 1.5% the previous day to two-month lows, as investors braced for President Trump's new trade tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday. Uncertainty remains over the scope of the tariffs, with reports suggesting a 20% levy on most U.S. imports. Meanwhile, Eurozone inflation cooled to 2.2% in March, in line with expectations. In corporate news, Thyssenkrupp surged over 7% after analysts at Kepler Cheuvreux upgraded the...
U.S. stocks fell Tuesday, as the market awaited clarity from President Donald Trump regarding his tariff policy rollout. Tuesday also marks the beginning of the second-quarter after a bumpy first quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 238 points, or 0.6%. The S&P 500 shed 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.3%. Shares of Alphabet and Apple lost more than 1% each. Tesla, meanwhile, climbed more than 2%. The White House on Wednesday is expected to unveil reciprocal tariffs on goods from virtually all countries. Investors had been hoping for a narrow approach toward...
According to a statement by the Federal Reserve (Fed), Fed Chair Jerome Powell met with United States (US) President Donald Trump on Thursday, where the head of the Fed reiterated that the Fed's...
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...