European equity markets extended their rally on the first trading day of 2026, with benchmark indices pushing to fresh record highs despite thin liquidity following the New Year holiday. Gains were led by defense stocks, underpinned by persistent geopolitical tensions and expectations of increased military spending across the region. The STOXX 50 climbed 0.7% to a new all-time high of 5,830 points, while the broader STOXX 600 rose 0.4% to a record 595 points. The strong start to the year follows a robust performance in 2025, when the STOXX 50 advanced about 18% and the STOXX 600 rose 17%,...
Hong Kong equities rose 75 points, or 0.3%, to 25,834 in Thursday morning deals, reversing a sharp drop the previous day as gains mainly from tech and consumer stocks lifted risk appetite. An extended rally on Wall Street overnight lent further support ahead of Friday's PCE index, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, while markets priced in a potential 25bps rate cut next week amid softer labor market signals. Locally, economists expect Hong Kong's HIBOR to stay between 2-3% in the coming quarters, providing a stable backdrop for asset markets and the broader economy. Gains were capped,...
Asian stocks opened higher on Thursday, following gains in US markets. Positive sentiment stemmed from weak US jobs data, bolstering confidence that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates at its meeting next week. The MSCI Asia stock index rose around 0.2%, while US stock index futures held steady after the S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.2% on Wednesday. In global financial markets, the US dollar index remained flat after previously falling 0.4%. US Treasury yields also fell, with the two-year yield hovering around 3.48% as expectations for an interest rate cut...
Japan's Nikkei index rose 0.7% to 50,211.09, driven primarily by shares of chip and industrial robot manufacturers. Renesas Electronics surged 7.1% and Fanuc rose 5.8%, providing a strong boost to the market, as the technology and robotics sectors are considered important drivers of the Japanese economy going forward. This rise occurred despite signs of a weakening labor market in the United States. Meanwhile, USD/JPY was hovering around 155.15, slightly weaker than its previous close of 155.52. Investors are now focused on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's policy moves and Japanese domestic...
US stocks extended their recovery as markets transitioned to looser Fed policy, with the Dow closing 0.9% higher, the S&P 500 gaining 0.4%, and the Nasdaq gaining 0.2%, as financial and defensive sectors outperformed due to a clear reweighting of near-term policy risks. ADP's surprise 32,000 decline in private payrolls pushed the chances of a Fed rate cut closer to certain. Wells Fargo and Citi each rose 3.5% as the prospect of looser policy reduced short-term funding costs and improved loan demand, while UnitedHealth jumped 4.7%. Marvel jumped 7.9% after raising its data center...
European stocks closed mixed on Wednesday (December 3) amid a series of corporate updates, as markets continued to gauge the euro's divergent interest rate outlook against that of the Fed and the ECB. The Eurozone STOXX 50 edged up 0.1% to 5,693, and the broader STOXX 600 gained 0.1% to 576. ECB President Lagarde noted that the bloc's inflation is expected to remain close to target, while Executive Board Member Lane warned of upside risks. Meanwhile, downbeat US jobs data reinforced speculation of a Fed rate cut next week. ASML jumped 2.6% after its ratings were upgraded by Bank of America...