The Hang Seng Index plunged 265 points, or 1.1%, to close at 24,508 on Friday (August 1), weakening for a fourth session and hitting a two-week low. Risk sentiment weakened after the US imposed high tariffs on dozens of trading partners, while US futures prices fell sharply after higher June inflation data. The new tariffs are expected to add to price pressures, fueling concerns about further inflation. Traders are also cautious ahead of US employment data due later today. For the week, the index fell 3.5%, its first weekly decline in four weeks, amid concerns about slowing Chinese...
Japan stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.35%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (TYO:4063), which rose 6.60% or 267.00 points to trade at 4,313.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (TYO:9009) added 4.77% or 68.50 points to end at 1,505.50 and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co (TYO:6305) was up 4.32% or 176.00 points to 4,252.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session...
European stocks rose on Monday, with the Stoxx 50 up 0.2% and the Stoxx 600 up 0.5%, and all sectors in positive territory, as investors prepared for a busy week of earnings and data from Europe and the US. Automotive and banking stocks led gains, both climbing 0.7%. Key earnings are expected from Porsche, Schneider Electric, and Deutsche Boerse. Meanwhile, signs of easing global trade tensions supported sentiment, with President Trump signaling openness to lowering Chinese tariffs and Beijing exempting certain US goods from its 125% levies. In corporate news, Italy's Mediobanca (+0.8%)...
Hong Kong stocks fell 73 points or 0.3% to 21,908 in early Monday trading, reversing gains from the prior session as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a key press briefing in China. Policymakers may announce new measures aimed at stabilizing employment and supporting growth following Friday's Politburo meeting. The decline came amid a sharp drop in U.S. futures, triggered by confusion over U.S. trade policy. Although President Donald Trump claimed progress was being made in trade talks with China and other nations, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent failed Sunday to support Trump's...
The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 1% to above 36,000 while the broader Topix Index rallied 1.2% to 2,670 on Monday, extending last week's rally, with export-oriented companies leading the gains as the yen retreated from multi-month highs. A weaker yen boosts the profit outlook for Japan's export heavy industries and makes Japanese assets more attractive to foreign investors. Markets also kept a close eye on trade negotiations between the US and Japan, which appeared to be making progress. Industrial names posted strong gains, with Mitsubishi Heavy rising 3%, Toyota Industries up 2.3%, and...
Asia-Pacific markets rose higher Monday as investors await further stimulus measures from China as well as developments in trade negotiations between the U.S. and countries in the region. Over the weekend, China's finance minister Lan Fo'an said that the Asian powerhouse will "adopt more proactive macroeconomic policies to promote the realization of the expected growth target for the whole year and continue to bring stability and momentum to the global economy," according to a Google translation of a statement posted on the ministry's website. Chinese authorities are slated to hold a press...