The Hang Seng Index plunged 454 points, or 1.7%, on Tuesday (November 18th), its sharpest one-day drop since mid-October, and closed at a two-week low of 25,930. The index fell for a third straight session, weighed down by broad declines across sectors. Sentiment soured due to the global market slump, with traders anxiously awaiting Nvidia's earnings report amid valuation concerns and the delayed release of US data, including the September employment report. Technology stocks slumped nearly 2% as the recent rally showed signs of exhaustion. Property, financial, and consumer discretionary...
US stocks were lower on Thursday, extending the poor momentum this week as markets assessed the outlook on rates and retailers' earnings for hints on the strength of the consumer. The three main equity indices were around 0.4% down, with the Nasdaq 100 set to drop sharply this week after a tech selloff. FOMC minutes showed that most members saw inflation risks as greater than labor market risks, while policymakers showed a degree of concerns that inflation expectations could become unanchored. Tech giants remained broadly under pressure as markets showed skepticism that AI services will...
The Hang Seng Index weakened 61 points, or 0.24%, to close at 25,105 on Thursday (August 21st), reversing earlier gains after a sluggish start. Sentiment weakened as US index futures weakened, following the FOMC minutes that signaled a hawkish stance amid persistent inflation risks ahead of the Fed's Jackson Hole symposium. Chairman Powell also expressed reluctance to cut interest rates, warning of tariff-driven price pressures this summer. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that China is considering allowing yuan-backed stablecoins to encourage global currency adoption, a potential shift in its...
European equities were little changed on Thursday as investors awaited updates from the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole symposium for clues on the path of monetary policy. The pan-European STOXX 600 index opens was flat as of 0704 GMT, while most major bourses were mixed. Central bankers from around the world will be at the event, and the focus will remain on Fed Chair Jerome Powell's last speech at the summit in the position for hints of possible rate cuts this year. Also on the slate later in the day are flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) data for August for the euro zone, France,...
Japanese stocks dropped for a third day, with investors remaining on the sidelines as central bankers gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for an eagerly awaited annual symposium. Topix Index fell 0.5% to 3,082.95 as of 3:31 p.m. Tokyo time Out of 1,679 stocks in the index, 694 rose and 911 fell, while 74 were unchanged Nikkei declined 0.6% to 42,610.17 Auto and pharmaceutical shares slumped, while profit-taking pressured sectors such as construction. Meanwhile, some AI-related stocks including Advantest were picked up by investors after Wednesday's selloff to gain...
Hong Kong shares were little changed on Thursday morning, holding near 25,174 after a modest gain in the previous session. Investors digested minutes from the latest FOMC meeting, which struck a hawkish tone amid lingering inflation risks. Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump reportedly called on Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign over allegations of providing false information to secure favorable mortgage terms. In China, equities extended gains as funds rotated into stocks despite ongoing U.S. trade tensions, while Beijing pressed ahead with curbs on excessive competition. Sector performance...