European stocks finished the session firmly higher, with the Euro STOXX 50 rising 0.7% and the STOXX Europe 600 gaining 0.8%, extending a rebound from Friday's tech-led selloff as investors looked past near-term volatility. Gains were broad-based, though the defense sector came under pressure after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled Ukraine's willingness to drop its long-standing bid for NATO membership in exchange for alternative security guarantees, a shift that raised hopes for progress in peace talks resuming in Berlin. Shares of Rheinmetall fell 2.6%, with Hensoldt and Renk also...
The Hang Seng Index plunged 320 points, or 1.2%, to close at 25,765 on Monday (December 8), reversing gains from the previous two sessions as most sectors weakened, particularly the financial, property, and consumer staples sectors. Deflationary risks persist ahead of the November CPI and PPI data in mainland China later this week. Investors are also growing nervous ahead of the likely Politburo meeting and the annual Central Economic Work Conference in China, as they seek guidance on policy direction for 2026. However, the weakness was partially offset by regulatory easing in China, with...
European stocks weakened at the opening bell on Monday (December 8th) as global investors focused on this week's US Federal Reserve monetary policy decision. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was last seen below the flatline. The Fed is widely expected to cut its benchmark interest rate at its final meeting of the year, with traders pricing in about an 87% chance of a 25 basis point cut on Wednesday when the central bank concludes its two-day meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The Fed's decision will serve as a benchmark for other central banks, which will hold their final policy...
The Nikkei 225 index rose around 0.27% to 50,582, while the Topix index strengthened 0.65% to 3,384 in Monday trading. These gains helped recoup some of the previous session's losses, driven by positive sentiment stemming from strong expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week. The prospect of lower interest rates in the US is usually good news for global risk assets, including Japanese stocks. However, investors remain cautious as they monitor rising geopolitical tensions between Japan and China, which could trigger renewed market volatility. At the same...
The Hong Kong stock index weakened in Monday morning trading, dropping around 165 points or 0.6% to 25,915. This correction halted the previous two sessions' rally. Most sectors fell, with financial and consumer stocks leading the decline. Investors have become more cautious after consecutive gains, opting to hold off while awaiting new data and sentiment. The market is now focused on the release of China's November trade data, scheduled for release today. Previously, October data recorded an unexpected decline in exports and weaker-than-expected imports, raising fresh concerns about the...
The Japanese stock market opened lower at the start of trading after disappointing economic growth data showed results. Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.6% in the July-September quarter compared to the previous three months—worse than the expected 0.4% decline. This data immediately weighed on market sentiment and caused several leading stocks to decline. The electronics, technology, and banking sectors were the hardest hit. Lasertec fell 1.8%, SoftBank Group fell 1.6%, and Resona Holdings fell 1.8%. Meanwhile, the US dollar strengthened against the yen to 155.21, up from 154.59...