Hong Kong stocks rose modestly on Tuesday, as investors positioned ahead of the Politburo meeting in China that could set the economic tone for the rest of the year, while sentiment remained upbeat following the launch of the world's largest hydropower dam project on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. The Hang Seng Index gained 135.89 points, or 0.5%, to close at 25,130.03, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) added 35.40 points, or 0.4%, to 9,075.60. Focus is now on the upcoming Politburo meeting, convened by Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, which could...
European markets shifted higher Thursday afternoon, following a mixed start to 2025 trading. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index reversed earlier losses to trade 0.5% higher by 3:50 p.m. London time, as regional bourses reopened after the New Year's Day holiday. Oil and gas stocks led gains, rising 2.3%, while utilities also climbed 1.6%. Banking stocks and autos dipped, however, losing 0.46% and 0.69% respectively, as uncertainty remained over the economic outlook and potential tariffs under U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. France's CAC 40 also reversed early losses to gain 0.18%, though...
European markets started 2025 on a cautious note, with the Stoxx 50 down 0.4% and the Stoxx 600 almost flat on Thursday. Gains in oil, gas and mining stocks, up 1.5% and 1.3% respectively, were offset by declines in banking (-0.1%) and media (-0.3%). After solid performances in 2024—up 8.3% for the Stoxx 50 and 6% for the Stoxx 600—investors are now looking for fresh drivers amid ongoing concerns over U.S. tariffs and European political instability. In economic news, Spanish factory activity picked up in December 2024, with the Spanish HCOB Manufacturing PMI rising to 53.3 from 53.1 in...
The Hang Seng plunged 437 points, or 2.2%, to close at 19,623 in the first trading session of 2025, pressured by further selling in mainland markets following sluggish Chinese factory activity in December. The index fell to a near one-month low, with concerns growing over potential tariff hikes by the Trump administration and their broad impact on Chinese exports. Nervous traders anticipated that markets would lack clear direction until the National People's Congress in early March when Beijing is due to announce its growth targets for the new year. Losses were broad, with financials down...
HK50 decreased to a 4-week low of 19563.00 Index Points. Over the past 4 weeks, Hong Kong Stock Market Index (HK50) lost 0.84%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 17.63%. Source: Trading Ecnomics
Stocks were slightly higher Tuesday, as investors look to wrap up another booming year that hoisted the S&P 500 to its second consecutive annual gain exceeding 20%, spurred by enthusiasm for rate cuts, economic strength and artificial intelligence. The broad market index traded 0.3% higher, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 141 points, or 0.3%. The S&P 500 has surged 24% in 2024, building on a gain of 24.2% from last year. The two-year gain of around 54% is the best since the nearly 66% rally in 1997 and 1998. Meanwhile, the Dow has...