European shares were flat on Wednesday, with gains in heavyweight healthcare stocks offsetting the decline in the broader market, as investors fretted over a potential delay in the closely-watched U.S. jobs data. The pan-European STOXX 600 held steady at 557.9 points by 0711 GMT, after posting its third successive monthly gain in September. Local bourses were mixed. Germany's DAX was down 0.5%, while the UK's FTSE 100 climbed 0.2% to an all-time high. Healthcare stocks jumped 2.7% after Pfizer and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said they had cut a deal in which the drugmaker...
Japanese stocks rose after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his plans to step down, fueling hopes of new catalysts such as a government spending boost. The Topix index rose 1.1% to 3,138.20—a new record high—with 1,305 stocks advancing, 299 declining, and 72 unchanged. The Nikkei 225 added 1.5% to 43,643.81. Ishiba's resignation follows weeks of pressure following the poor results of the July election. According to TBS, the Liberal Democratic Party is considering a leadership election on October 4. "The market sees this as a sign of movement after post-election stagnation," said...
Hong Kong shares rose 52 points or 0.2% to 25,468 in Monday morning trade, gaining for the second session as U.S. futures inched up after weak U.S. labor data boosted expectations of rate cuts this month. Mainland markets advanced further after weekend data showed China's forex reserves in August hit their highest since December 2015, helped by a weaker dollar, while the central bank continued to build gold holdings. Gains were led by consumer and tech stocks as property and financials lagged. Sentiment was capped by caution ahead of China's August trade data due later today, with markets...
The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 1.1% to above 43,500 while the broader Topix Index gained 0.7% to 3,127 on Monday, with Japanese shares edging closer to record highs after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced over the weekend that he will step down. His resignation followed intensifying rifts within the ruling party and weeks of pressure stemming from his national election defeat late last year. The move also came as Japan faced setbacks in securing a trade deal with the US while trying to shield its key auto industry from steep tariffs. At the same time, Japan's second quarter GDP growth...
Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher Monday as investors assessed the resignation of Japan's prime minister and eyed key economic data in the region. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.95% after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation Sunday, following weeks of mounting pressure over his national election defeat late last year. The Topix climbed 0.51%. The Japanese yen weakened 0.64% to 148.33 against the greenback. "Japan is now set for a period of extended uncertainty going into Q4 2025," wrote analysts from BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. "Although the...
US stocks closed lower on Friday after weaker-than-expected August jobs data raised concerns about a slowing economy, even as expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts firmed. The S&P 500 gave up earlier gains, ending 0.3% lower and below Thursday's record close, the Dow dropped 220 points, while the Nasdaq 100 was flat. The economy added just 22K jobs, well below the 75K forecast, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, highlighting a cooling labor market. Traders priced in a higher chance of interest-rate cuts, with bets rising on a potential 50bps reduction this month. Banks,...