European stocks closed mostly higher to extend the positive momentum this week on strength in healthcare and luxury brands. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 inched higher to 5,651 and the pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.5% to 570, both at record highs. Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Merck, and UCB rose more than 2%, extending their surge this week after the US Presidential Administration signaled that tariffs on pharmaceutical goods may be less aggressive than feared, while allowing patients to buy discounted prescription drugs through a new federal website. Luxury giants were also higher as markets assessed...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% to below 38,200, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.8% to 2,750 on Monday, marking a third straight session of losses for Japanese equities. The selloff followed US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, a major escalation in the Middle East as the US joins Israel in its conflict with Iran. Markets are now on edge, awaiting Tehran's response amid concerns about wider regional instability and higher oil prices. On the domestic front, data showed that Japanese manufacturing activity returned to growth in June for the first time since May...
Asia-Pacific markets plunged on Monday after a US strike on three nuclear sites in Iran lifted oil prices and investors worried about an escalation in the Middle East conflict. Oil prices have surged in recent weeks amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude was trading at $78.66 a barrel, after jumping 2.14%, as of 9:43 a.m. Singapore time, while West Texas Intermediate crude was up 2.23% at $75.47. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.56%, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.49%. In South Korea, the Kospi index fell 1.05%, while the small-cap Kosdaq index dropped...
US stocks were higher on Friday after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said that the FOMC could cut interest rates next week, while investors continued to assess geopolitical risks. The three main stock indices were firmly in the green, enough to erase losses from earlier in the week. Waller noted that he doesn't expect tariffs to have a significant inflationary effect and favored the evidence of disinflation for the argument against higher rates, supporting equities on all sectors. IN the meantime, President Trump stated that the decision to strike Iran would take up to two...
Hong Kong stocks ended the week in positive territory after three straight sessions of losses, as investors welcomed policy stability after both the People's Bank of China and the city's de facto central bank held key interest rates steady. The Hang Seng Index climbed 292.74 points, or 1.3%, to close Friday's session at 23,530.48, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 116.13 points, or 1.4%, to 8,527.07. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority kept the base rate unchanged at 4.75%, mirroring the US Federal Reserve's decision to maintain its rate target at between 4.25% to 4.5%. As...
European stocks rebounded on Friday after three sessions of declines, as the U.S. pause in Middle East conflicts eased investor concerns. The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.4 percent at 537.98 points by 0708 GMT. The benchmark index was on track for a second weekly decline. The Israeli-Iranian air war entered its second week and European officials are trying to get Tehran back to the negotiating table after President Donald Trump said any decision on potential U.S. involvement would be made within two weeks. The news lifted the market mood and helped restore appetite for riskier assets...