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 1.02% to close at 38,488 on Thursday, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.58% to 2,792, ending a three-day rally as rising geopolitical risks dampened investor sentiment. Market jitters mounted amid reports that the U.S. was preparing for a potential attack on Iran, raising concerns about broader instability in the Middle East. The selloff followed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged and maintain a cautious stance, citing inflation risks related to President Donald Trump's tariffs. On the domestic front, investors are turning their...
Hong Kong shares plunged 273 points, or 1.2%, to 23,438 in early trading on Thursday, marking a third straight decline and hovering near a two-week low. The selloff followed a sharp drop in U.S. stock futures after Fed Chair Powell sounded a cautious note on inflation, even as the central bank kept interest rates steady for a fourth straight meeting, as widely expected. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment, with concerns growing over the potential for direct U.S. involvement in the Middle East. In China, the People's Bank of China will hold its monthly lending rate decision,...
Asia-Pacific markets fell on Thursday, as investors weighed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates steady, while the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continued to weigh on sentiment. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.74% while the Topix dropped 0.61%. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.34% and the small-cap Kosdaq was flat. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was flat. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.48% and mainland China's CSI 300 was flat. Investors also await decisions by the central banks of Taiwan and the Philippines later in the day. U.S. President Donald...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% to around 38,600, while the broader Topix index shed 0.6% to 2,791 on Thursday, ending a three-day winning streak as investors locked in profits and weighed global uncertainties. Overnight, the U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady, with policymakers taking a cautious stance amid concerns about the inflationary impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Geopolitical tensions are also adding to the pressure, as the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict raises concerns about expanding U.S. involvement in the Middle East. At home, investors are turning their...
Stocks in the US seesawed on Wednesday as investors reacted to the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged and Fed Chair Powell's cautious tone amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The S&P 500 finished slightly lower, the Dow lost 44 points while, the Nasdaq added 0.1%. Powell emphasized the Fed's wait-and-see stance, citing uncertainty around the inflationary effects of President Trump's tariffs and the risk of stagflation, as officials projected two rate cuts in 2025 but downgraded growth forecasts and raised inflation expectations. Markets were...