The S&P 500 edged up 0.1% and the Nasdaq 0.3% on Wednesday (July 30), while the Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near the flatline, as investors awaited the Fed's policy decision and assessed key economic data. The Fed is expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged, with the market closely monitoring its outlook for the remainder of the year, especially after preliminary data showed US GDP grew stronger than expected by 3% in Q2, reinforcing signs of a resilient economy. Furthermore, ADP data showed the US private sector added 104,000 jobs in July, significantly higher...
European markets are heading for a positive open Wednesday as global markets await the latest inflation reading out of the U.S. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points higher at 8,785, Germany's DAX up 75 points at 22,104, France's CAC up 12 points at 8,042 and Italy's FTSE MIB 102 points higher at 37,798, according to data from IG. Global market focus is on the latest U.S. consumer price index report for January that will be published on Wednesday. Headline inflation is expected to have grown 0.3% from the prior month and 2.9% from 12 months earlier, according to Dow...
Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose Wednesday as investors digested U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff impact on regional economies. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, meanwhile, re-emphasized on Tuesday the central bank's focus on curbing inflation and signaled that policymakers were not in a rush to push interest rates lower. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded up 0.31%. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.21% after resuming trading following a holiday, while the Topix slid 0.22%. South Korea's Kospi added 0.29% and the small-cap Kosdaq lost 0.36%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 2.05% while...
Shares in Hong Kong soared 394 points or 1.8% to 21,685 in early trade on Wednesday, swinging from a 1.0% fall in the previous session amid solid gains across sectors. The Hang Seng touched its highest level in four months following a pledge from China's cabinet to spur spending and lure foreign investment ahead of an annual legislative gathering in March. In the US, Fed Chair Powell told Congress on Tuesday that the central bank is in no rush to cut borrowing costs and that it would be unwise to speculate on tariff policy at this time. Capping further gains was news that US President Trump...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.25% to 39,900, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.2% to 2,725 in mixed trading on Wednesday, as Japanese stocks struggled for direction following a one-day holiday. Market sentiment was influenced by mixed results on Wall Street, amid President Trump's latest tariff escalation and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments suggesting the central bank is in no rush to cut interest rates further. In Japan, investors turned their attention to upcoming economic data, with machinery tool orders due Wednesday and producer inflation data expected Thursday. Among...
Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled there was no urgency to cut rates. Powell on Tuesday re-emphasized the central bank's focus on curbing inflation and signaled that policymakers were not in a rush to push interest rates lower. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded around the flatline. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.71% after resuming trading following a holiday, while the Topix added 0.22% at the open. South Korea's Kospi slid 0.21% while the small-cap Kosdaq lost 0.36%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures were at 21,551, also stronger...