The Nikkei 225 fell 0.85% to 44,551 while the broader Topix dropped 1.37% to 3,095 on Wednesday, extending this week's declines as investors digested mixed economic signals. Business sentiment among large manufacturers improved in Q3 to its highest level since Q4 2024, though US tariff pressures continued to cloud the outlook. Meanwhile, weak readings in retail sales and industrial production highlighted persistent economic headwinds. Sentiment was further dampened by the US government shutdown after lawmakers failed to agree on a temporary funding deal, raising concerns over its duration...
The Hang Seng Index weakened 38 points, or 0.15%, to close at 25,524 on Tuesday (July 29th), reversing gains from the previous session as most sectors declined. Traders are increasingly cautious about the potential negative impact of the US-EU trade deal, including its implications for growth and inflation. Meanwhile, President Trump raised global tariffs by 15% to 20% for non-negotiating partners, a level not seen since the Great Depression. Profit-taking also weighed after benchmark indexes in Hong Kong and China recently hit multi-year highs. However, the benchmark indexes pared earlier...
European stocks traded higher on Tuesday, with the STOXX 50 rising 0.5% and the STOXX 600 up 0.3%, rebounding from losses in the previous session as investor focus shifted to corporate earnings. Philips led the gains, jumping around 10% after raising its full-year guidance. Shares of EssilorLuxottica also climbed over 5% after the company reported a rise in first-half operating profit despite facing tariff-related headwinds. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca added 0.6% following its earnings release, and Barclays posted better-than-expected profits and announced a £1 billion share buyback. However,...
Japan stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Transport and Communication sectors led shares lower. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 declined 0.77%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Otsuka Holdings Ltd (TYO:4578), which rose 3.04% or 213.00 points to trade at 7,223.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Recruit Holdings Co Ltd (TYO:6098) added 2.21% or 200.00 points to end at 9,250.00 and Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) was up 2.20% or 40.00 points to 1,861.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Lasertec...
Hong Kong shares fell 282 points or 1.1% to 25,277 in early trade Tuesday, pulling back from Monday's gains as all sectors retreated. Investors reacted to weak June trade data in the city, showing the slowest growth in exports and imports in five months on softening global and domestic demand as trade risks mounted. Some traders took profits after the Hang Seng revisited near four-year highs while Wall Street ended mixed overnight. Sentiment was further weighed by caution ahead of key U.S. events this week, including the Fed's rate decision and inflation readings. In China, July PMI data...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.9% to below 40,700, while the broader Topix Index declined 0.8% to 2,908 on Tuesday, marking a third straight session of losses for Japanese equities. The initial optimism from recent trade agreements began to wane, and investors turned their focus to the ongoing US-China trade talks in Stockholm. Attention also shifted to a busy week of domestic corporate earnings, with major firms such as Advantest, Keyence, Tokyo Electron, Nintendo, ANA Holdings, and Japan Airlines scheduled to report. Technology stocks led the retreat, with notable losses from Disco (-1.4%),...