The Nikkei 225 rose 1% to around 40,200, while the broader Topix Index gained 0.9% to 2,860 in post-holiday trading on Tuesday, extending last week's gains as investors digested the weekend's election outcome. Although Japan's ruling coalition lost its majority in the upper house, the result was largely anticipated by markets. Importantly, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to remain in office, easing fears of political instability or a sudden resignation. Ishiba reaffirmed his commitment to stay on, citing the need to manage ongoing tariff negotiations with the US and other key...
Stocks in Hong Kong rose 84 points or 0.4% to 20,123 in morning deals on the last trading day of 2024, swinging from a weak session the prior day. This rise was driven by strength in property, consumers, and financials. Sentiment was uplifted by official PMI data from China, indicating that factory activity in December grew for the third month, despite a slower rate of increase. Meanwhile, the service sector rose the most in nine months, following stabilization in November. Some early movers included China Mengniu Dairy (4.2%), Haidilao Intl. (4.0%), and Pop Mart Intl. (3.4%). The Hang...
Stocks moved lower Monday in one of the final trading sessions of 2024, as a banner year for investors appears to be ending on a sour note. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lose 418.48 points, or 0.97%, to close at 42,573.73. The S&P 500 fell 1.07% to 5,906.94, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.19% to 19,486.78. Trading was choppy throughout the day, and the Dow was down more than 700 points at session lows. There was no apparent news catalyst for Monday's decline, and trading was expected to be light given the shortened week. The SPDR S&P 500 Trust (SPY) had about 47 million shares...
European markets opened in negative territory on Monday, which will be the region's last full trading session of the year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell about 0.4% shortly after the opening bell, with all sectors and major bourses in negative territory. Industrials, media and technology stocks led the declines. Trading is expected to be subdued in Europe on Monday, as markets prepare to end the New Year holiday. Over the weekend, European Central Bank Governing Council member Robert Holzmann told Austrian newspaper Kurier that the institution could slow down its interest...
The Hang Seng fell 49 points, or 0.24%, to close at 20,041 on Monday, following a lackluster performance in the previous session. Losses were led by the technology, property and consumer discretionary sectors as traders remained cautious ahead of China's official December PMI data, due for release on Tuesday. China's economic recovery remained uneven in November, with factory activity expanding for a second month while the services sector stagnated. Meanwhile, US futures plunged as Wall Street prepared for the final trading week of 2024, amid rising US Treasury yields and concerns over the...
The Nikkei stock index on Monday expanded 19 percent from a year earlier, ending at its highest level on record on the back of solid company earnings and a weaker yen boosting export-oriented issues. Stocks fell on the final trading day of the year, however, with the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ending down 386.62 points, or 0.96 percent, from Friday at 39,894.54. The broader Topix index finished 16.76 points, or 0.60 percent, lower at 2,784.92. Japanese financial markets will be closed from Tuesday through Sunday for the New Year holidays. Source : mainichi.jp