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...
Germany's flash composite PMI rose to 50.9 in August from 50.6, the highest since March and above market expectations of 50.2. Still, it was below the long-run 52.6 average, signaling modest growth. Manufacturing led with output at 52.6 on stronger new orders, while services stagnated at 50.1. Employment dipped, and cost pressures picked up, though overall growth remained limited. Source: Trading Economics
The S&P Global Flash Australia Services PMI Business Activity Index rose to 55.1 in August from 54.1 in July, marking the fastest growth in 40 months. The expansion was driven by stronger demand and renewed increases in new export business, particularly from the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific markets. To manage higher workloads, service providers added staff at the quickest pace since April 2023. Input costs remained elevated due to higher wages, materials, and shipping, but the rate of inflation eased, allowing firms to raise selling prices more moderately. As a result, output price...
China is considering permitting yuan-backed stablecoins for the first time as part of efforts to increase global adoption of its currency, according to a report from Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter. This potential policy shift represents a significant reversal of China's previous stance toward digital assets. The State Council, China's cabinet, is expected to review and possibly approve a roadmap later in August that would promote wider international usage of the yuan, including initiatives to compete with U.S. developments in stablecoins. Sources indicate the plan will...
Bank Indonesia unexpectedly cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 bps to 5.0% at its August 2025 policy meeting, following a 25 bps cut the previous month and defying market expectations to hold rates steady. This marked the fifth rate cut since last September, bringing the benchmark to its lowest level since October 2022. The decision reflects projections that inflation for 2025–2026 will remain within the central bank's target range of 2.5% ± 1%, a stable Rupiah exchange rate, and ongoing efforts to support economic growth. Recent data showed GDP grew by 5.12% yoy in Q2—its highest pace...
The U.K.'s annual inflation rate hit a hotter-than-expected 3.8%in July, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had anticipated inflation would reach 3.7% in the twelve months to July, after it picked up to 3.6% in June, exceeding forecasts. July core inflation, which excludes more volatile energy, food, alcohol and tobacco prices, rose by an annual 3.8%, up from 3.7% in the twelve months to June. The latest data comes after the Bank of England earlier this month voted by a fine margin to cut...