Hong Kong stocks rose modestly on Tuesday, as investors positioned ahead of the Politburo meeting in China that could set the economic tone for the rest of the year, while sentiment remained upbeat following the launch of the world's largest hydropower dam project on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. The Hang Seng Index gained 135.89 points, or 0.5%, to close at 25,130.03, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) added 35.40 points, or 0.4%, to 9,075.60. Focus is now on the upcoming Politburo meeting, convened by Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, which could...
Hong Kong shares fell 197 points, or 0.8%, to 23,953 around midday Wednesday, reversing gains from the previous session after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his global trade war by threatening a 50% tariff on copper and signaling upcoming levies on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. In China, consumer prices rose slightly in June after four months of decline, indicating that deflationary pressures remained elevated. Meanwhile, producer prices saw their steepest drop in near two years amid intense competition, weak demand, and mounting U.S. tariffs. Losses were almost broad-based,...
The Nikkei 225 dipped 0.05% to around 39,670 on Wednesday, while the broader Topix Index edged up 0.25% to 2,823, as Japanese stocks struggled for clear direction amid heightened trade tensions. Investors weighed the latest tariff developments out of Washington, with US President Donald Trump confirming there would be no changes or extensions to the updated duties targeting 14 countries. Japan is set to face a 25% tariff beginning August 1. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo will continue negotiations with the US in search of a mutually beneficial outcome. Meanwhile, Trump...
Asia-Pacific markets were set to open mixed Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out a deadline extension on tariffs which are set to kick off on Aug. 1. Trump on Tuesday stateside also announced a 50% levy on copper imports and indicated that further sector-specific tariffs will be announced soon. He also threatened to impose up to 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the U.S., but said that he will "give people about a year, year and a half" until the duties go into effect. Here are the opening calls for the day Good morning from Singapore. Investors will also be...
US stocks were little changed on Tuesday as investors digested conflicting signals from President Trump on tariffs. After initially delaying the return of broad "Liberation Day" tariffs until Aug. 1, Trump reversed course and said there would be no further extension, adding confusion to an already volatile trade environment. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed near the flatline, while the Dow fell 165 points. The market reacted sharply to Trump's announcement of a steep 50% tariff on copper imports, sending copper futures soaring more than 10% and lifting shares of producers such as...
The European stock markets closed higher in Tuesday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.33%, Germany's DAX gained 0.50%, the FTSE 100 advanced 0.54%, France's CAC 40 increased 0.56%, and the Swiss Market Index was up 0.13%. In Germany, calendar and seasonally-adjusted exports declined 1.4% in May, while imports fell 3.8% compared with the previous month, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Compared with a year earlier, exports increased 0.4% and imports rose 4.2%. Meanwhile, the trade balance for May was 18.4 billion euros ($21.6 billion). And in corporate news, UBS made about...