Wall Street's indexes closed at record highs on Wednesday, buoyed by strong sector performance and optimism that the US government shutdown will be brief. Investors shrugged off the first day of the shutdown and weaker-than-expected private payrolls data, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.3%, the Nasdaq 100 rising 0.5%, and the Dow adding 43 points. Health-care stocks led the advance, driven by sharp gains in Regeneron (+6.7%), Moderna (+6.8%), Eli Lilly (+8.2%), and AbbVie (+5.5%), while optimism over Pfizer's (+2.2%) deal with the White House on Medicaid drug pricing provided additional...
European markets opened in positive territory on Tuesday as investors digested the latest raft of tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump. While the pan-European Stoxx 600 index and Germany's Dax were mostly flat, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up by 0.22%. France's CAC also opened higher by 0.35%. Global markets started the week on a positive note, appearing to shrug off Trump's announcement over the weekend that he would impose a blanket 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports on Monday. Since the announcement was made yesterday evening, however, markets have taken a downturn,...
The Hang Seng dipped 227 points or around 1% to end at 21,295 on Tuesday, slipping for the first session in four amid a decline in US futures ahead of key US inflation data later this week. Sentiment was further dampened after President Trump signed an order Monday imposing a 25% tariff on steel imports and raising duties on aluminum from 10% to 25%, both effective from March 4. Most sectors fell, with tech sinking 2.7% and slipping for the third day, as optimism for AI and chip stocks waned. Capping further falls was Trump's statement that he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping...
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday as investors assessed U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff campaign.Trump on Monday signed an order imposing 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the U.S.Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded around the flatline.South Korea'sKospi rose 0.72%, while the small-cap Kosdaq climbed 0.35%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.56%, while the mainlan China's CSI 300 dipped 0.36%.Japan markets were closed for a holiday.Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index slipped 0.44% after it hit an all-time intraday high of 3,910.12 on Monday.India's...
The Hong Kong stock market fell by 92 points or 0.4% to 21,434 during Tuesday morning trading, marking its first drop in four sessions amid cautious sentiment following President Trump's announcement of a global 25% tariff on US imports of steel and aluminum, set to take effect on March 4. Markets retreated from their highest since early October, as traders adopted a vigilant stance ahead of this week's key US inflation data and Fed Chair Powell's testimony before Congress. Most sectors dropped, with tech, property, and consumers slipping the most. Further losses were capped by optimism...
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Tuesday, tracking gains on Wall Street that appeared to look past U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff campaign.Trump on Monday signed an order imposing 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the U.S.Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.24% higher. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.36%, while the small-cap Kosdaq traded around the flatline.Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures were at 21,576, slightly stronger than the HSI's last close of 21,521.98.Japan markets were closed for a holiday.Investors will also be keeping an eye on Singapore markets after the...