Oil prices rose slightly in trading on Tuesday (January 20) after better-than-expected Chinese economic data boosted demand optimism. Brent crude rose 19 cents (0.3%) to $64.13/barrel, while February WTI which expires today rose 25 cents (0.4%) to $59.69/barrel. The more active March WTI contract also edged higher to around $59.42/barrel. This strengthening was driven by news from China, the world's largest oil importer. The Chinese economy reportedly grew 5.0% through 2025, meeting the government's target. Refinery activity also increased, with refinery throughput rising 4.1% and crude oil...
The Tokyo Stock Exchange was closed today (Monday, October 13) for Health and Sports Day, so the benchmark level is based on the Nikkei 225's final close of 48,088.80 (-1.01%) on Friday (October 10). Trading continued in derivatives, but sentiment remained fragile following Asian turmoil due to renewed US-China trade tensions following Washington's threat of new tariffs. This has dampened risk appetite in the region, although US futures have attempted a rebound. In Japan, the market is also monitoring political uncertainty following the collapse of the LDP-Komeito coalition and the dynamics...
The Hang Seng dipped 401 points or 1.5% to end at 25,889 on Monday, marking a sixth session of losses as all sectors weighed on the index. Sentiment weakened further after President Trump announced Friday 100% tariffs on Chinese exports and new export controls on critical software starting Nov. 1, in retaliation for Beijing's rare earth curbs. Traders shrugged off his later remarks that "trade relations with China will be fine." Markets hit a one-month low, tracking a pullback from decade highs in mainland stocks. Losses were partly offset by stronger-than-expected Chinese trade data...
European stocks started the week in positive territory, with the STOXX 50 rising 0.9% and the STOXX 600 adding 0.6%, as traders geared up for the upcoming earnings season and largely brushed off trade tensions between the US and China. Following Friday's threat by Washington to raise tariffs on China in response to Beijing's rare earth export controls, US President Trump said on Sunday that the "China situation will all be fine." Meanwhile, ASML and LVMH are among the major companies scheduled to release quarterly results this week. On the political front, French President Macron announced...
The Hong Kong stock market opened sharply lower at the start of this week after escalating trade tensions between the United States and China once again shook investor sentiment. The Hang Seng Index fell 656 points, or 2.49%, to 25,634, extending its decline for the sixth consecutive day. Selling pressure spread across sectors, with the Hang Seng Tech Index and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index also falling more than 2%. This massive sell-off was triggered by US President Donald Trump's threat to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports starting next month. Fears of a full-blown trade war...
Asia-Pacific markets fell Monday after China and the U.S. tightened trade restrictions and traded fresh accusations, renewing tensions between the world's two largest economies. China on Sunday said "we are not afraid of" a trade war with the United States after President Donald Trump vowed to impose punishing new retaliatory tariffs on Chinese imports. A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce accused the U.S. of a "textbook double standard" with Trump's promise on Friday to tack on additional 100% tariffs on those imports after China imposed new export controls on rare earths...