European stocks ended mixed on the last trading day of the year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed a shortened trading session 0.1% lower on Wednesday, with most sector indexes in negative territory. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 ended the day down 0.2%, bringing the index to an annual gain of 21.5% – its strongest yearly gain since 2009. Meanwhile, France's CAC 40 ended New Year's Eve down 0.2%, while Germany's DAX rose 0.6%. Italy's FTSE MIB gained 1.1%, bringing annual gains to 31.5% and its best year since 1998. Markets were open for a half-day of trading on Wednesday, and will be closed...
Stocks rose Wednesday after the S&P 500 posted a third losing session, as investors weighed newly released U.S. economic data. The S&P 500 traded 0.1% higher along with the Nasdaq Composite. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 146 points, or 0.3%. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released early Tuesday its November job report, which also included data from October. The findings pulled back the curtain on the U.S.′ economic health following a federal data backup caused by the U.S. government shutdown this fall. The report showed the U.S. economy shed 105,000 jobs in...
The Hang Seng Index rose 233 points, or 0.9%, to close at 25,469 on Wednesday (December 17), ending two consecutive sessions of sharp declines as gains spread across all sectors. The index rebounded from a near four-week low, supported by buying after recent losses. Mainland Chinese markets also recovered, supported by a rebound in technology stocks, which boosted sentiment across the region. Meanwhile, analysts at Goldman Sachs said Chinese equities could rise by around 30% by the end of 2027, citing continued pro-market policies, improving corporate earnings, and continued capital...
European stocks opened generally higher on Wednesday (December 17th) as investors prepared for central bank decisions. Central bank action will be closely monitored by European market participants this week, with the European Central Bank (ECB) scheduled to hold its final policy meeting of the year on Thursday. Although the central bank is expected to keep interest rates at 2%, ECB President Christine Lagarde has said it is likely to raise its eurozone growth forecast again. In September, the central bank raised its annual GDP growth forecast to 1.2%. The Bank of England, Riksbank, and...
The Nikkei 225 closed today with a slight increase of +0.26% to 49,512.28. Fundamentally, the Japanese market is in a tug-of-war between positive domestic sentiment and interest rate concerns. On the one hand, Japanese export data is strong (supportive for global-oriented stocks), but on the other hand, the market is increasingly convinced that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates this week—this usually strengthens the yen and can pressure exporter stocks. Additional pressures come from less than ideal industrial activity indicators and fiscal issues: factory activity/machinery...
Equities in Hong Kong rose 104 points, or 0.4%, to 25,341 in early trade on Wednesday, rebounding from steep losses in the previous two sessions. Bargain hunting emerged after markets slid to a near four-week low the day before, lifting most sectors, particularly consumer and tech names. Meanwhile, mainland markets stabilized after closing sharply lower Tuesday, weighed earlier by renewed concerns over a prolonged property sector downturn and weak activity data in November. On the corporate front, China Vanke will hold a second meeting with bondholders starting Thursday, with voting...