Asian markets are expected to open mixed. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 is expected to start the day slightly lower, with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,838, compared to the index's last close of 8,873.8. Japan's Nikkei 225 is expected to open higher, with futures in Chicago at 42,795, while those in Osaka last traded at 42,770, compared to the index's last close of 42,649.26. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index were at 25,316, indicating a weaker open compared to the HSI's last close of 25,519.32. (alg) Source: CNBC
Stocks in Europe extended gains on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 rising 0.9% to hit new 25-year highs and the STOXX 600 gaining 0.5% after breaking a fresh record level in the previous sessions. Market sentiment got a boost amid prospects of a potential resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. President Trump announced that the US and Russia would begin immediate negotiations following his conversation with President Putin and that the two leaders would meet in Saudi Arabia for further discussions. Autos, food and beverages, travel and leisure and industrials were among the top performing...
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher Thursday, breaking ranks with Wall Street that fell overnight as a stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation reading diminished prospects of policy easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.15%, hitting a record intraday high of 8,575.2, surpassing its previous peak of 8,566.9 scaled on Jan. 31. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.1% while the Topix climbed 0.91%. South Korea's Kospi traded 0.71% higher, while the small-cap Kosdaq traded around the flatline. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.58% while mainland China's CSI 300 traded...
Hong Kong's equities surged 283 points, or 1.3%, to 22,140 in early trading on Thursday, marking the second consecutive day of gains and reaching a four-month high. Most sectors advanced, buoyed by optimism over a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia following phone calls between US President Trump, Russian President Putin, and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy. Hang Seng Index up, buoyed by investor optimism over a potential resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. After opening 100 points higher at 21,958, the benchmark index extended its gains, climbing as much as 228 points to...
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher Thursday, breaking ranks with Wall Street that fell overnight as a stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation reading diminished prospects of policy easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.26%. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.1% while the Topix climbed 0.91%. South Korea's Kospi traded 0.71% higher, while the small-cap Kosdaq traded around the flatline. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.58% while mainland China's CSI 300 traded flat. Overnight in the U.S., the S&P 500 tumbled and bond yields spiked after consumer prices rose...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 1.1% to surpass 39,300, while the broader Topix Index climbed 0.9% to 2,757 on Thursday, extending the previous session's gains. Nearly all sectors participated in the rally, fueled by a strong corporate earnings season that lifted market sentiment in Japan. This came despite a rise in producer inflation, which reached a 20-month high in January. Japanese stocks also brushed off the hotter-than-expected US consumer inflation data, which strengthened the case for the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady. Among the top performers were Advantest (+3.6%),...