The Hang Seng Index reversed its downward trend in Hong Kong on Thursday (February 12th), weakening by around 0.9% to around 27,000 after a strong session earlier. This decline halted the momentum of the short term rally, as investors began to reduce risk in large cap stocks. Among the index's contributors, Tencent was a major drag, with its shares falling by around 2.3%, putting pressure on the technology sector, which has recently been a driving force behind market gains. Weakness in large cap companies like this typically quickly impacts sentiment due to their significant weighting in...
Economic activity in the UK's private sector expanded at a softer pace in September than in August, with the S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declining to 51 from 53.5. This reading came in worse than the market expectation of 52.7. In this period, the Manufacturing PMI fell to 46.2 from 47, while the Services PMI edged lower to 51.9 from 54.2. Commenting on the survey's findings, "September's flash UK PMI survey brought a litany of worrying news including weakening growth, slumping overseas trade, worsening business confidence and further steep job losses," said...
Germany's HCOB Manufacturing PMI slipped to 48.5 in September 2025, down from 49.8 in August, surprising market expectations for stabilization at 50. The reading signaled the steepest contraction in four months. Production continued to expand but at the softest pace in two months, while new orders fell for the first time in four months, marking the sharpest decline since January. Export sales also dropped for a second consecutive month. Firms relied on existing backlogs to support output, though outstanding business was depleted at the fastest rate in nine months. Employment fell further,...
Wolfe Research said the latest call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored a thaw in relations but cautioned that tariff relief is unlikely in the near term. The firm described the September 19 call as the capstone to "a week of positive noises on the US-China relationship," with both sides issuing upbeat readouts. Trump highlighted Xi's approval of the TikTok deal framework and "productive" talks on trade, fentanyl, and Russia-Ukraine. Beijing's statement was "pragmatic, positive, and constructive" but also warned that "the US side should avoid...
India's Trade Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Washington today, September 22, to push forward a long-pending trade deal, following renewed talks last week. "The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," an official statement said. On September 16, U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch met Indian officials led by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal in New Delhi. Talks were described as "positive" and "forward-looking" after President Trump softened his stance following punitive tariffs on...
Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled on Thursday that he is open to raising certain taxes, especially on the wealthy, as the government struggles to make ends meet in the fourth year of the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported. The draft budget is expected to be submitted to parliament on September 29. Sources told Reuters that the government is considering raising the value-added tax rate to keep the budget deficit in check and maintain reserves. Meeting with leaders of parliamentary factions, Putin said that measures such as a luxury tax or a higher tax on stock dividends could be...