Equities in Hong Kong rose 96 points or 0.4% to 24,9 on Monday morning deals, extending gains from the previous session as traders reacted to the PBoC's decision to keep its one-year and five-year loan prime rates at record lows, in line with expectations. The Hang Seng index reached its highest level since early 2022, lifted by broad-based sector gains and a modest uptick in U.S. futures amid optimism over global trade. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed confidence on Sunday that a deal with the EU could be reached before the August 1 deadline, though talks may continue...
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.7% to below 38,100, while the broader Topix Index fell 0.4% to 2,677 on Friday, reversing some of the previous session's gains. Investors were reacting to data showing that Tokyo inflation rose above 2% in November, fueling speculation that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates next month. Markets now price in a 60% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike in December, up from about 50% a week ago. Meanwhile, the latest data on industrial production, retail sales and employment showed signs of slowing economic activity. Technology stocks led the decline, with...
The pan-European Stoxx 600index ended up 0.45%, having slightly pulling back from earlier gains. Banking stocks led the pack, up 0.98%, while household goods were a rare outlier, down 0.67%. France's CAC 40 index rose 0.51%, rebounding from a decline Wednesday even as the country's risk premium drew level with Greece's for the first time amid ongoing political turmoil.Shares of British insurance firm Direct Line jumped 42%, hitting their highest level since early 2023, after it said a takeover offer from rival Aviva "substantially undervalued" the company. The stock ended the day 41%...
The Hang Seng tumbled 236 points or 1.2% to end at 19,367 on Thursday, marking the first decline in three sessions amid escalating trade disputes between China and the US. The Biden administration reportedly may introduce fresh curbs on sales of semiconductor equipment and AI memory chips to China next week. Meanwhile, US President-elect Trump's trade policies and their potential impacts remain uncertain, with China's state media warning of possibly severe repercussions. In business news, media reports said BYD Co. and other Chinese automakers urged suppliers to cut prices, signaling...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.56% to close 38,349 while the broader Topix Index jumped 0.82% to 2,687 on Thursday, with Japanese shares ending a two-day decline as risk sentiment improved, while investors took advantage of lower valuations. However, caution persisted as the yen surged to its highest levels in over five weeks on Wednesday, driven by speculation that the Bank of Japan may raise interest rates again as soon as next month. Markets are now assigning a 60% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike in Japan in December, up from around 50% a week ago. Investors are also closely watching...
European markets are expected to open higher Thursday, rallying after being in the doldrums yesterday. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 16 points higher at 8,291, Germany's DAX up 72 points at 19,334, France's CAC up 30 points at 7.173 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 98 points at 33,310, according to data from IG. There are no major earnings Thursday, but data releases include Spanish and German inflation and European economic sentiment figures. Italian and Spanish business confidence data is also due. It'll be a quieter day globally with U.S. markets...