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%,...
The Nikkei 225 index rose 0.7% to around 38,300, while the broader Topix index gained 0.6% to 2,699 on Friday, recovering some losses from the previous session as investors digested the latest Japanese consumer inflation data. The data revealed that Japan's headline inflation rate slowed to a nine-month low of 2.3% in October, while core inflation also fell to a six-month low of 2.3%, slightly above the 2.2% forecast. In addition, a separate report showed that manufacturing activity in Japan contracted more than expected in November, although service activity increased. Nearly all sectors...
Hong Kong stocks are headed for a weekly gain as investors await more clarity on stimulus measures from Beijing. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.2 per cent to 19,642.83 as of 10.02am local time, taking the gain to 1.1 per cent for the week. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.7 per cent. Mainland's benchmarks declined. The CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index both retreated 0.3 per cent. Source: SCMP
The Topix Index is rising 0.8% at 2,704.34 in Tokyo. In midday trading, electric appliances stocks led the market higher, as 30 of 33 sectors gained; 1,537 of 2,128 shares rose, while 453 fell. Recruit Holdings Co. contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 2.7%. Integrated Design & Engineering Holdings Co. had the largest increase, rising 20.5%. Source: Bloomberg
Asian equities rose Friday following gains on Wall Street as investors shook off initial concerns over Nvidia Corp.'s revenue outlook. Bitcoin edged closer to $100,000 while the dollar gained. Shares in Australia and Japan advanced. An index of US-listed Chinese stocks fell 1% Thursday, running against the grain of trading in New York but partly reflecting selling in Hong Kong stocks in their most recent session. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both rose Thursday. Nvidia ended higher and even touched a fresh intraday record in a sign investors...
The S&P 500 rose Thursday in choppy trading as investors poured into stocks poised to benefit from a booming economy, and shook off a decline in technology stocks led by Nvidia. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 370 points, or 0.8%. The S&P 500 added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq pulled back 0.4%. The market gains were led by companies that would benefit from a accelerating economy, despite the overarching focus on market bellwether Nvidia's earnings report after the bell Wednesday. Some of Thursday's winners included bank stocks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs and retailer Home...