US stocks were little changed on Tuesday, with the three major indexes hovering around the flatline as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a potential government shutdown that could disrupt the release of key labor data later this week. The government faces the risk of shutting down tomorrow if Democrats and Republicans fail to reach a deal today, putting Friday's payrolls report at risk. Traders also awaited the JOLTS job openings data due later in the day. Energy and communication services were the worst performing sectors while utilities outperformed. Microsoft (-0.6%), Amazon...
The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 0.29% to close at 38,702, while the broader Topix Index fell 0.44% to 2,702 on Friday, marking the sixth consecutive session of losses as investors reacted to stronger-than-expected inflation data. Japan's headline inflation rate rose to a three-month high of 2.9% in November, up from 2.3% in October, while the core inflation rate increased to 2.7%, surpassing market expectations of 2.6%. These figures support a hawkish outlook for Bank of Japan (BOJ) monetary policy. However, the BOJ chose to keep rates unchanged at its December meeting, citing the need to...
Japanese shares are rising slightly on Friday as the yen's weakening on dovish signals from the Bank of Japan supported export-related sectors such as automakers, steel producers and shippers. The Topix Index rose 0.2% to 2,719.63 as of 9:30 a.m. Tokyo time The Nikkei advanced 0.2% to 38,880.21 Toyota Motor Corp. contributed the most to the Topix Index's gain, increasing 2.8%. Out of 2,126 stocks in the index, 1,195 rose and 775 fell, while 156 were unchanged. With key domestic and overseas monetary policy events out of the way, domestic demand-linked...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher Thursday, rebounding from its 10th straight loss.The 30-stock Dow added 164 points, or 0.3%. The S&P 500gained 0.3%, alongside the Nasdaq CompositeShares of artificial intelligence darling Nvidia which weighed down the Dow in the previous session, traded 2% higher. Gains in financial stocks, including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America led the recovery in equities Thursday alongside industrials, health care and utilities. Stocks plunged Wednesday after the Federal Reserve struck a heavy blow against the roaring bull market, signaling that it...
European markets fell sharply at the open on Thursday, following global markets lower after the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted yesterday that a small rate cut was imminent. The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 1.26% shortly after the start of trading, with all sectors in negative territory. The lower open in Europe was anticipated following a sell-off on Wall Street on Wednesday after the Fed, which cut its overnight lending rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 4.25% to 4.5%, signaled there would likely be only two rate cuts in 2025, instead of the four cuts it had previously...
The Hang Seng fell 112 points, or 0.6%, to close at 19,753 on Thursday after an upbeat session the previous day, dragged down by broad-based declines across sectors. Investors held off on entering fresh positions after the U.S. Fed cut borrowing costs for the third time this year but warned it would slow the pace of interest rate cuts next year. Meanwhile, cautious traders awaited China's key monthly lending rate decision on Friday after it hit a record low in November. The market pared early losses, however, on a report that battery maker CATL is considering a second listing in Hong Kong...