European stocks posted slight declines on Monday (July 21st) as markets continued to assess the trade outlook in the European Union. The Eurozone STOXX 50 fell 0.3% to close at 5,342, and the pan-European STOXX 600 fell 0.1% to 546. US officials maintained the threat of 30% tariffs on EU exports while the EU Commission continued to negotiate lower tariffs ahead of the August 1st deadline. Meanwhile, the EU also signaled that aggressive retaliation would be pursued if no deal was reached, risking escalation and higher prices in the bloc. Shares of luxury goods giants led the decline in the...
European stocks started the week on a cautious note, with the STOXX 50 slipping 0.1% and the STOXX 600 hovering near the flatline, as traders brace for a week of key central bank decisions from the Fed, BoE, and BoJ. Adding to concerns were signs of economic weakness in the Euro Area. Flash PMIs from France revealed the country's private sector contracted for a fourth consecutive month, with a sharp deepening in the manufacturing downturn. Over the weekend, Moody's unexpectedly downgraded France's credit rating to Aa3 from Aa2, citing concerns over weakened public finances due to ongoing...
European markets are expected to open in mixed territory Monday, as traders gear up for the final Federal Reserve meeting of the year. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points lower at 8,292, Germany's DAX up 36 points at 20,443, France's CAC down 1 point at 7,401 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,876, according to data from IG. The Fed's decision on Dec. 18 stateside is front and center for global markets this week, with the CME Fedwatch tool forecasting a 96% chance of a 25-basis-point cut by the central bank. Traders will be paying close attention to the updated...
The Nikkei 225 index edged down 0.03% to close at 39,457, while the broader Topix index fell 0.3% to 2,738 on Monday, extending losses from the previous session as investors shifted their focus to the Bank of Japan's upcoming policy decision. Markets remain divided over whether the central bank will raise interest rates again or maintain its current stance when the decision is announced on Thursday. However, BOJ officials last week signaled that more time was needed to assess the latest economic data. Meanwhile, Japan's core machine orders beat expectations in October, signaling a positive...
The Hang Seng Index opened slightly lower at 19,962.29 in Hong Kong on Monday (12/16). AIA Group Ltd. was the biggest contributor to the decline, down 1.0%. Kuaishou Technology was the biggest decliner, down 1.6%. In early trading, 38 of 83 stocks were down, while 40 were up; two of four sectors were down, led by trade and industrial stocks. Source: Bloomberg
Japanese stocks were mixed on Monday, with a weaker yen supporting export-related companies such as machinery and automakers. Rising U.S. bond yields boosted banking stocks, although trading was subdued before key central bank decisions this week in Japan and abroad. The broader Topix index fell 0.1 percent to 2,744.06 as of 9:36 a.m. in Tokyo. The Nikkei index rose 0.2 percent to 39,544.74. Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. was the biggest contributor to the Topix decline, dropping 2 percent. Of the 2,126 stocks in the index, 890 rose and 1,080 fell, while 156 were unchanged. Source: Bloomberg