Hong Kong stocks fell for the second session, down 46 points or 0.2% to 25,469 on Wednesday morning, after U.S.-China trade talks ended without a meaningful breakthrough. While extending the current tariff truce remains possible, Treasury Secretary Bessent said President Trump will have the final say. Caution also prevailed ahead of the Fed's rate decision later today, with analysts noting most Fed officials prefer to wait and assess the inflationary impact of tariffs before acting, especially with Trump's August 1 tariff deadline looming. Tech shares led the fall, followed by consumers...
The Nikkei 225 index rose 0.2% to above 34,400 while the broader Topix index edged up 0.1% to 2,533 on Friday, extending gains from the previous session amid hopes that ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and Japan will lead to tariff concessions. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted "great progress" in the negotiations during a meeting in Washington with Japanese Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa. On the economic front, recent data showed that Japan's headline inflation eased to a four-month low of 3.6% in March, while core inflation rose as expected to 3.2%. Looking...
U.S. stocks end a shortened week with mixed performances. For the first time on record, the DJIA drops more than 1% while the S&P 500 rises. The Dow industrials are dragged down by a 22% slide on UnitedHealth Group, after the insurer slashes its outlook. Alcoa falls 7% as it expects tariffs on aluminum to create a $100 million headwind on annual earnings. Eli Lilly gains 14% as its experimental pill to fight diabetes while reducing weight meets pivotal goals. Energy and consumer staples stocks are the top gainers among S&P 500 sectors. DJIA falls 1.3%, to 39142; the S&P 500...
US stocks were mostly flat to hold this week's sharp losses before tomorrow's holiday, as markets assessed mixed corporate earnings and risks around President Trump's uncertain tariff policies. The S&P 500 inched above the flatline and the Nasdaq 100 added 0.3% on some respite for the tech sector. TSMC gained 3% on a strong guidance, supporting the broader chip sector after Nvidia's export embargo by Trump and poor results from ASML drove chip stocks to record steep losses this week. On the trade front, threats on tariffs on copper, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and lumber were yet...
The Hang Seng rallied 338 points or 1.6% to end at 21,395 on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session's weakness. The recovery tracked a surge in US futures after President Trump cited "big progress" in negotiations aimed at helping Japan avoid higher tariffs. Investor sentiment was also boosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for regional unity and an "Asian family" during his Southeast Asia tour. Gains were broad-based, led by tech, property, and consumer sectors. However, upside momentum was capped after Fed Chair Powell warned that tariffs could slow growth and push up...
Major European bourses traded lower on Thursday, with both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 down 0.4% as investors digest fresh corporate earnings, look ahead to the European Central Bank's upcoming policy decision and continue to follow the trade war. Hermes shares fell 3% after the luxury brand reported a 7% year-on-year revenue increase in Q1, falling short of expectations for 7.6%. In contrast, Siemens Energy surged nearly 10% after the company raised its outlook for fiscal 2025, with first-quarter revenue and profit also exceeding forecasts. Meanwhile, the ECB is widely expected to deliver...