European shares were flat on Wednesday, with gains in heavyweight healthcare stocks offsetting the decline in the broader market, as investors fretted over a potential delay in the closely-watched U.S. jobs data. The pan-European STOXX 600 held steady at 557.9 points by 0711 GMT, after posting its third successive monthly gain in September. Local bourses were mixed. Germany's DAX was down 0.5%, while the UK's FTSE 100 climbed 0.2% to an all-time high. Healthcare stocks jumped 2.7% after Pfizer and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said they had cut a deal in which the drugmaker...
Japanese stocks ended lower as concerns about borrowing costs mounted. Chip and auto stocks led the declines. Advantest dropped 9.2% and Honda Motor dropped 3.2%. Government bond yields rose across the curve to their highest in more than a decade as a Bank of Japan deputy governor said the central bank will discuss the possibility of raising interest rates next week. The two-year JGB yield rose 3.5 basis points to 0.680%, the highest since October 2008. The 10-year yield rose 4.5 basis points to 1.240%. The Nikkei Stock Average fell 1.8% to 38,474.30. Investors are focused on any...
Hong Kong shares rose 107 points, or 0.6%, to 18,986 on Tuesday morning, marking their first gain in seven sessions amid broad sector gains. The market rebounded from a near four-month low after December trade data showed China's exports expanded and imports hit a 27-month high. Traders also cheered Beijing's decision to allow domestic companies to raise more funds from overseas. China has also signaled it will boost consumption, expand imports and attract foreign investment this year. Adding to the bullish momentum was a modest rise in U.S. stock futures after a mixed session on Wall...
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.3% to around 38,700, while the broader Topix Index fell 0.6% to 2,698 on Tuesday, extending last week's downtrend as Japanese markets reopened after a long holiday weekend. The declines were in line with global markets, as stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data dampened speculation of further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Investors also took a cautious stance amid growing speculation that the Bank of Japan will raise its inflation forecast at its policy meeting this month, potentially signaling further rate hikes. Technology stocks led the declines,...
The Nasdaq fell on Monday, while the benchmark S&P 500 bounced off a two-month low and eked out a slight gain as U.S. Treasury yields stayed elevated with investors dialing back expectations on the pace of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Recent economic data have indicated a resilient economy with nagging price pressures, which has pressured equities. Comments from Fed officials have pushed bond yields higher. The S&P 500 had weekly losses in four of the last five weeks. Promised tariffs from President-elect Donald Trump have also fueled worries about inflation. Treasury...
All major European stock markets fell on Monday amid rising government bond yields and a surging U.S. dollar. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index ended the day 0.55% lower, with most sectors in negative territory. It's the second day of losses for investors in the FTSE 100 and CAC 40 while Germany's DAX has fallen for four consecutive days in a row. The Netherlands-headquartered Redcare Pharmacy was among the biggest losers for the day. The company's shares lost nearly a tenth of their value after German retailer dm-drogerie markt last week announced plans to become a competitor in the...