US stocks opened sharply lower in August, with all three major indexes falling more than 1%, as a weaker-than-expected jobs report fueled renewed concerns about the strength of the US labor market and the overall economy. Non-farm payrolls rose by just 73,000 in July, and employment figures for May and June were revised down by 258,000, adding to evidence that the labor market is slowing more rapidly than anticipated. The weaker data fueled expectations that the Fed would cut interest rates twice this year, with another cut likely in September. Market pressure intensified when President...
Shares in Asia traded in a tight range amid relatively thin holiday trading after a rally in some of the world's biggest technology companies boosted U.S. benchmarks. Stocks swung between gains and losses in Japan and were slightly lower in Australia, with sessions shortened in Hong Kong and Sydney for Christmas Eve. U.S. stock futures were little changed after Tesla Inc. and Nvidia Corp. pushed the "Magnificent Seven" megacap benchmark up 1.4% on Monday, helping the S&P 500 erase an earlier decline triggered by weaker-than-expected U.S. consumer confidence data. The 10-year Treasury...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined Monday as the market started a holiday-shortened trading week on a soft note. The blue-chip Dow fell 140 points, while the S&P 500 gained 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite bucked the downtrend, rising 0.6%, as Tesla, Meta and Nvidia all traded in the green. Trading is expected to be relatively muted during the week. The New York Stock Exchange closes early Tuesday for Christmas Eve at 1 p.m. ET, and the market is shut on Christmas Day. Weak economic data seemed to sour the sentiment a bit. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index...
European markets closed just above the flatline on Monday as a shortened trading week began in the run-up to Christmas. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally ended the session 0.07% higher, with sectors in mixed territory. Trading is expected to be relatively muted in the run-up to Christmas, with European markets set to be closed, or close early, for Christmas Eve and remain shut on Christmas Day. Overnight, Asia-Pacific markets started the week on a positive note, with investors digesting a press conference relating to the merger of Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan. The...
European markets were mixed on Monday as a shortened trading week begins ahead of Christmas. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index hovered above the flatline during early morning deals, with most sectors and all major bourses in negative territory. Trading is expected to be relatively quiet ahead of Christmas, with European markets set to be closed, or close early, for Christmas Eve and remain closed on Christmas Day. Overnight, Asia-Pacific markets started the week on a positive note, with investors digesting a press conference related to the merger of Japanese automakers Honda and...
The Hang Seng Index rose 0.8% at 19,883.13 in Hong Kong. The index advanced to the highest closing level since Dec. 13 after the previous session's decrease of 0.2%. China Construction Bank Corp. contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 2.9%. Orient Overseas International Ltd. had the largest increase, rising 6.2%. Today, 63 of 83 shares rose, while 19 fell; all sectors were higher, led by finance stocks. Source : Bloomberg