The Nikkei 225 Index rallied 1.1% to above 41,600 while the broader Topix Index jumped 1.5% to 2,970 on Thursday, with the latter reaching all-time highs as the recently announced trade deal with the US and Japan continued to support market momentum. Japan now faces a 15% tariff on its exports to the US, lower than the 25% levy that Trump threatened in a letter earlier this month. Global sentiment improved further on reports of progress in US-EU trade talks. On the domestic front, data showed that Japan's private sector growth held steady in July, with continued strength in services...
The Hang Seng fell 187 points or 0.8% to close at 23,453 on Thursday, reversing early gains and pulling back from a strong rally in the previous session. All sectors declined, weighed by tech, property, and consumer stocks. Sentiment weakened as mainland Chinese markets turned lower after a three-day bullish mood. Caution also grew after Wednesday's data showed a plunge to a 20-year low in China's new bank loans for April, reflecting weak demand and ongoing pressure from the U.S.–China trade tensions. Even news that Beijing had rolled back a rare earth export ban amid easing trade disputes...
European stocks opened firmly in negative territory as investors digested earnings updates from a number of companies across the continent. The Stoxx Europe 600 and France's CAC 40 were down 0.4%, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 and Germany's DAX were down 0.5% as of 8:25 a.m. in London. Elsewhere in the currency market, the British pound gained 0.2% after better-than-expected U.K. gross domestic product figures for the first quarter. Shares of German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp plunged 8% shortly after the opening bell Thursday, sending the company to the bottom of the regional Stoxx 600...
Japanese stocks fell after the close on Thursday (5/15), as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Transportation and Communications sectors led shares lower. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.88%. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. (TYO:6976), which rose 6.77% or 159.50 points to trade at 2,514.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Aozora Bank, Ltd. (TYO:8304) gained 5.75% or 114.50 points to close at 2,105.50 and Haseko Corp. (TYO:1808) gained 4.77% or 95.50 points to 2,098.50 in late trade. The worst performers on the session were Rakuten Inc (TYO:4755),...
Hong Kong shares rose 56 points, or 0.2%, to 23,691 during the morning session on Thursday (May 15), marking a second straight day of gains. Traders reacted to Beijing's decision to lift export curbs on rare earths and military-use technology for 28 U.S. entities, effective Wednesday, allowing exporters to apply for licenses for a 90-day period. China also temporarily lifted trade and investment bans on 17 U.S. companies, which it called a potential step to restart bilateral ties. Locally, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said Hong Kong's interest rates may remain low due to ample liquidity,...
The Nikkei 225 index fell 1% to around 37,700 while the broader Topix index fell 0.7% to 2,745 on Thursday, with Japanese shares dropping for a second straight session as the recent market rally fueled by the U.S.-China trade deal lost momentum. Analysts noted that while easing global trade tensions offered some relief, the broader outlook for corporate earnings and economic growth remained largely unchanged. Investors were also watching developments in a potential U.S.-Japan trade agreement, with Tokyo aiming to finalize a deal by June. In corporate news, Sony Group tumbled 4.7% after...