The S&P 500 rose 0.4% on Friday (July 25), notching its fifth consecutive record close—its longest streak in more than a year—while the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.2% after hitting an intraday high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 208 points as investors digested a wave of trade developments and corporate earnings. Optimism surrounding trade talks contributed to the rally, with President Trump scheduled to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday amid hopes of a US-EU deal. Deals were also reached with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines ahead of the...
European stocks close firmly lower on Wednesday as markets continued to assess the impact as geopolitical tension in the Middle East may have on energy prices and the outlook of European debt supply amid pledges of higher defense spending. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 dropped 0.8% to close at 5,254 and the pan-European STOXX 600 dropped 0.7% to 537. NATO members agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP by 2030 during the ongoing summit in the Hague. Food and beverage producers led the losses among main equity sectors of the Eurozone, with AB InBev and Danone dropping more than 3%....
The S&P 500 edged up 0.2% on Wednesday, while the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.4% and appeared poised to surpass the all-time high set in the previous session. The Dow Jones on the other hand, hovered near the flatline. Traders continued to assess the economic and monetary policy outlook ahead of Fed Chair Powell's second day of testimony before Congress. His remarks on Tuesday were widely seen as dovish, reinforcing expectations for at least two interest rate cuts by year-end. Meanwhile, the apparent stability of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel also provided some support to market...
The Hang Seng jumped 298 points or 1.2% to close at 24,475 on Wednesday, rising for the fourth straight session and notching its highest level in over three months. The rally tracked strong gains on Wall Street, as the U.S.-brokered truce between Iran and Israel appeared to hold, with both nations signaling an end to their air strikes, at least for now. Meanwhile, Fed Chair Powell reiterated there's no need to rush rate cuts, though some analysts believe easing could come sooner if inflation remains contained. In China, Beijing unveiled new guidelines to boost consumption through financial...
European stocks edged higher on Wednesday as investors looked to a ceasefire between Israel and Iran as a sign of easing tensions. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX), was up 0.2% at 542.12 points, as of 0704 GMT. Other major regional indexes were also trading higher, except for Spain's (.IBEX), which fell 0.3%. A truce brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding on Wednesday, a day after both countries signaled that their air war was over, at least for now. Trump's Middle East envoy said late Tuesday that talks between the U.S. and Iran...
Japanese stocks rose after the close on Wednesday (6/25), as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors boosted shares. At the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.40% to hit a fresh 3-month high. The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. (TYO:6976), which rose 7.16% or 167.00 points to trade at 2,501.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) rose 4.08% or 66.00 points to close at 1,685.00 and SUMCO Corp. (TYO:5541) gained 4.08% or 66.00 points to close at 1,685.00. (TYO:3436) rose 3.93% or 41.50 points to close at...