The three US indices closed lower on Thursday, as gains in Microsoft and Meta failed to lift the broader market amid renewed trade uncertainties and economic concerns. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, marking its third consecutive loss, while the Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.4%. The Dow dropped 330 points, dragged down by losses in healthcare stocks. Market sentiment was dented by President Trump's decision to extend a 25% tariff on Mexican imports and looming deadlines for broader trade actions. The Fed's preferred inflation gauge, the core PCE, rose 0.3% in June and 2.8% from a year earlier, adding to...
Hong Kong stocks fell on Thursday, as indications that the US Federal Reserve was in no rush to slash interest rates weighed on investor sentiment. The Hang Seng Index slid 1.6%, or 367.26 points, to end at 22,576.98. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index retreated 1.7%, or 140.54 points, to 8,322.56. US Fed officials are inclined toward keeping interest rates steady as they wait for further progress on inflation and clarity surrounding the new administration's economic policies. The interest rate is likely to be kept between 4.25%-4.5%, according to the minutes of the Fed's January...
European shares were steady on Thursday as gains in industrials and materials were offset by declines in heavyweight sectors such as energy and healthcare. The pan-European STOXX 600 index opens held its ground at 552.47 points. The benchmark index logged its worst day so far in 2025 in the previous session. The industrial goods and services sector opens rose 0.6%, led by a 5.4% jump in Schneider Electric opens after the electrical equipment maker forecast a bigger-than-expected rise in its 2025 profit margin. Source: Reuters
(Hong Kong) Morgan Stanley strategists have shifted their stance on Chinese equities, moving from long-standing scepticism to cautious optimism. This notable pivot aligns with Wall Street peers, as expectations grow for a sustainable rally driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and regulatory reforms. The firm's strategists, led by Laura Wang, now recommend an equal-weight position on Chinese stocks, forecasting the MSCI China Index to reach 77 by the end of 2025—a 22% increase from their earlier target and 4% higher than Wednesday's close. The index, which entered a bull market...
European markets are expected to open higher Thursday as investors monitor earnings reports from a raft of major European companies. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 10 points higher at 8,696, Germany's DAX up 49 points at 22,475, France's CAC up 16 points at 8,118 and Italy's FTSE MIB 32 points higher at 38,437, according to data from IG. Earnings are due from Accor, Schneider Electric, Mercedes, Zurich Insurance, Lloyds Banking Group, Centrica, Airbus, Hays, Anglo American, Renault, Repsol, Leonardo and Aegon. There are no major data releases Thursday.U.S. President Donald...
Shares in Hong Kong tumbled 486 points or 2.1% to 22,460 on Thursday morning session, marking the second session of decline amid a pullback in US futures as investors analyzed US President Trump's proposed levies of about 25% on autos, chip, and drug imports. Markets moved further away from their highest in over four months, hit earlier in the week, after the latest FOMC meeting minutes showed Fed officials were ready to hold interest rates steady due to stubborn US inflation and economic policy uncertainty. Mitigating further weakness, the PBoC's monthly fixing on its key lending rates...