The Hang Seng Index plunged 265 points, or 1.1%, to close at 24,508 on Friday (August 1), weakening for a fourth session and hitting a two-week low. Risk sentiment weakened after the US imposed high tariffs on dozens of trading partners, while US futures prices fell sharply after higher June inflation data. The new tariffs are expected to add to price pressures, fueling concerns about further inflation. Traders are also cautious ahead of US employment data due later today. For the week, the index fell 3.5%, its first weekly decline in four weeks, amid concerns about slowing Chinese...
Stocks fell again on Thursday as investors sought more clarity on the latest U.S. tariff measures and their impact on the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was trading 530 points lower, or 1%. The S&P 500 was down 1.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 1.8%. U.S. tariffs on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese imports took effect this week, rattling financial markets. Canada and China responded with their own retaliatory tariffs, while Mexico said it would announce its own measures over the weekend. The major averages have each lost at least 3% this week as trade tensions escalate....
The Hang Seng surged 776 points, or 3.3%, to close at 24,370, marking its third straight gain and its highest level in more than three years, with all sectors gaining. Investors viewed policy signals from China's annual parliamentary meeting positively, prompting increased buying. The technology sector rose 5.4%, led by an 8.5% surge in Alibaba Group, which has surged 46% since hitting a 2025 low on Jan. 13, on optimism over its AI development efforts. Consumer, property and financial stocks also rose strongly, as traders bet that the latest U.S. tariff hike under President Trump would not...
European markets opened higher on Thursday as investors eyed further earnings releases and awaited the latest monetary policy decision from the European Central Bank. The regional Stoxx 600 index rose 0.26% shortly after the market opened. Air France-KLM shares rose more than 16% after the airline group beat market expectations for full-year and fourth-quarter operating profits. Germany's Lufthansa rose 7% on its own annual results, which showed a decline in annual profit but also slightly above consensus. DHL Group, listed as Deutsche Post, jumped 9% after announcing a 1 billion euro...
Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Shipbuilding, Textile and Marine Transport sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.91%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Japan Steel Works Ltd (TYO:5631), which rose 15.86% or 843.00 points to trade at 6,159.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7011) added 10.79% or 245.50 points to end at 2,520.50 and Okuma Corp. (TYO:6103) was up 8.04% or 265.00 points to 3,560.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Mitsubishi...
Shares in Hong Kong soared 520 points or 2.2 to 24,115 on Thursday morning deals, marking the third session of gains while reaching their highest level in over three years. This followed an overnight rally on Wall Street in the wake of President Trump's announcement of a one-month exemption on auto tariffs for Mexico and Canada. Traders keenly added new positions after China projected a 5% GDP growth for 2025 during a parliamentary session, keeping the same forecast as 2024 despite trade tensions with the US. Moreover, Beijing announced plans to issue CNY 1.3 trillion in ultra-long...