Hong Kong stocks rose modestly on Tuesday, as investors positioned ahead of the Politburo meeting in China that could set the economic tone for the rest of the year, while sentiment remained upbeat following the launch of the world's largest hydropower dam project on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. The Hang Seng Index gained 135.89 points, or 0.5%, to close at 25,130.03, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) added 35.40 points, or 0.4%, to 9,075.60. Focus is now on the upcoming Politburo meeting, convened by Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, which could...
European shares closed higher on Thursday as investors took in stride a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report, with bank stocks leading gains as focus remained on a potential trade deal between the European Union and the United States. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX), closed 0.5% higher, in tandem with a 0.9% rise in the U.S. S&P 500 (.SPX), Germany's DAX (.GDAXI), advanced 0.6%, while France's CAC 40 (.FCHI), added 0.2%. U.S. job growth was unexpectedly solid in June, with the nonfarm payrolls reading shooting above market estimates for the month. "Today's good news...
U.S. stocks rose on Thursday after fresh evidence of a strong labor market reinforced views of a resilient economy. The three major indexes rose about 0.5%, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting fresh records. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, well above expectations for a 110,000 gain, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.1%. The data brushed aside concerns that tariffs and economic uncertainty were hurting jobs, underscoring the resilience of the U.S. economy. In turn, lawmakers in the lower House of Representatives cleared a hurdle to be on track to pass Trump's...
Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) in the United States (US) rose by 147,000 in June, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Thursday. This reading followed the 144,000 (revised from 139,000) increase recorded in May and came in better than the market expectation of 110,000. Other details of the employment report showed that the Unemployment Rate edged lower to 4.1% from 4.2%, while the Labor Force Participation Rate ticked down to 62.3% from 62.4%. Finally, annual wage inflation, as measured by the change in the Average Hourly Earnings, retreated to 3.7% from 3.8% in May. This print fell...
The Hang Seng dipped 151 points or 0.6% to finish at 24,070 on Thursday, reversing previous strength as falls hit most sectors, particularly consumer, financial, and tech. Caution prevailed ahead of key U.S. payroll data after the first drop in private sector jobs in over two years. In China, a private survey showed services activity fell to a nine-month low in June, weighed by the steepest decline in foreign sales in over two years amid mounting trade headwinds. Fierce competition among mainland e-commerce giants also raised concerns over profit margins. The index trimmed early losses on...
European stocks edged higher on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 gaining 0.2% and the STOXX 600 rising 0.3%, extending the previous session's gains as investors continued to monitor trade developments. Sentiment was supported by news that the US has lifted certain chip design export restrictions on China, another sign of easing tensions and a potential trade truce. Semiconductor stocks responded positively, with Siemens up 1.6%, Infineon gaining 2%, and NXP Semiconductors jumping 4%. The US also reached a trade agreement with Vietnam, which includes a 20% tariff on Vietnamese...