The three US indices closed lower on Thursday, as gains in Microsoft and Meta failed to lift the broader market amid renewed trade uncertainties and economic concerns. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, marking its third consecutive loss, while the Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.4%. The Dow dropped 330 points, dragged down by losses in healthcare stocks. Market sentiment was dented by President Trump's decision to extend a 25% tariff on Mexican imports and looming deadlines for broader trade actions. The Fed's preferred inflation gauge, the core PCE, rose 0.3% in June and 2.8% from a year earlier, adding to...
(Hong Kong) As April inches towards its final trading day, the Hang Seng Index opened higher by 30 points or 0.13%, reaching 22,038 points. Concurrently, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index dropped by 16 points or 0.2%, settling at 8,051 points, while the Hang Seng TECH Index rose by 10 points or 0.2%, closing at 5,030 points. In the tech sector, notable developments unfolded with Tencent edging up by 0.4%, Alibaba climbing by 1.2%, Meituan seeing no significant change, Xiaomi Group declining by 0.4%, JD.com slipping by 0.1%, and Kuaishou ascending by 0.1%.Following the release of...
Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed Wednesday as traders parse a slew of key economic data in the region. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.14% while the Topix added 0.5%. South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.2% and the Kosdaq dipped 0.25%. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 traded flat. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid 0.53% while China's CSI 300 traded flat after China's manufacturing activity fell more-than-expected into contractionary territory in April.The Bank of Japan kickstarts its policy meeting on Wednesday, and is widely expected to hold rates at 0.5% when the meeting concludes on...
Japanese shares rose on Wednesday as markets reopened following a one-day holiday. The Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% to around 35,900, while the broader Topix Index climbed 0.7% to 2,670, extending recent gains. Investor sentiment was buoyed by comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the US held "substantial talks" with Japan regarding a potential trade agreement. However, domestic data provided a mixed picture—industrial production declined more than expected in March, and retail sales growth fell short of forecasts. Attention now shifts to the Bank of Japan's upcoming policy...
U.S. stocks closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by reports that a major trade deal is nearing completion and corporate earnings. The S&P 500 rose 0.58%, posting its sixth straight gain and marking its longest winning streak since November. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 300 points, or 0.75%, its best gain since July, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.55%. Honeywell (+5.4%) and Sherwin-Williams (+4.9%) led the Dow after reporting strong quarterly results. General Motors fell 1.1%, after canceling its share buyback and withdrawing its outlook on possible tariffs while Amazon was...
European markets closed higher on Tuesday after investors pored over a raft of earnings for indications of the impact of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty. The Stoxx 600 index closed 0.4% higher, with utilities and health care leading gains. Regionally, the FTSE 100 closed up 0.6% — its 12th straight day of gains and its best gain in at least five years. France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX rose 0.1% and 0.8%, respectively. Volvo Cars shares fell 10% after the automaker reported a sharp drop in first-quarter profit and suspended its full-year guidance due to market headwinds....