The Nikkei 225 fell 0.4% to below 41,700, while the Topix Index dropped 0.6% to 2,960 on Friday, as investors booked profits following a sharp rally that pushed both indexes to new highs. Despite the pullback, both benchmarks remain on track to post weekly gains of over 4%, buoyed by optimism around the recently signed US-Japan trade deal. Under the agreement, Japanese exports to the US will face a 15% tariff, well below the 25% threatened by President Trump earlier this month, easing some trade-related uncertainty. On the economic front, Tokyo's core inflation came in slightly below...
Hong Kong shares fell 59 points, or 0.2%, to 24,008 on Tuesday, reversing gains from the previous session as most sectors fell. A sharp drop in U.S. stock futures weighed on sentiment after President Trump urged evacuations from Tehran, stoking fears of a wider conflict as tensions between Israel and Iran entered a fifth day. Caution also prevailed ahead of the Fed's two-day policy meeting that begins today, with a rate decision due on Wednesday. While the Fed is widely expected to keep rates unchanged for a fourth straight day, rising geopolitical risks and rising oil prices could cloud...
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.3% to above 38,400, while the broader Topix gained 0.1% to 2,780 on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session as investors awaited the Bank of Japan's latest policy decision. The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged as it monitors developments in U.S. trade policy and assesses the inflationary impact of rising oil prices. Japanese equities also benefited from a rebound on Wall Street, where investors largely shrugged off rising tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump called for a full evacuation of...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) found firmer footing on Monday, kicking off the new trading week on a high note and paring away most of the late-week losses that pushed indexes into the red last Friday. Israel launched strikes against Iranian targets under the auspices of denying Iran access to nuclear weapons. Israel is one of only four countries to not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and is also not a party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Despite Israel's strikes quickly spiraling out into barrages of missile launches between Iran and Israel that...
US stocks were higher on Monday, erasing most of the losses from the previous session as markets reconsidered fears that the conflict between Israel and Iran would trigger global economic shocks. The S&P 500 and the Dow were around 0.7% higher, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 added more than 1%. Hostilities between Tehran and Tel-Aviv persisted after exchange of strikes, but softer concerns that allies would join the conflict or that strikes would hamper global energy supply supported a rebound in risk sentiment. On the macroeconomic front, the FOMC is set to hold rates this week and...
The Hang Seng rose 168 points or 0.7% to close at 24,061 on Monday, reversing early losses and posting its first gain in three sessions. Property stocks led gains after Guangzhou plans to ease home-buying curbs and price controls. Consumers and financials also strengthened, as China's consumer spending surged in May, due to holiday-driven demand. A jump in U.S. futures also boosted sentiment, ahead of the Fed's interest rate decision Wednesday. While the central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady for the fourth straight meeting, mounting Middle East tensions and rising oil prices...