European stocks closed mostly higher to extend the positive momentum this week on strength in healthcare and luxury brands. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 inched higher to 5,651 and the pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.5% to 570, both at record highs. Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Merck, and UCB rose more than 2%, extending their surge this week after the US Presidential Administration signaled that tariffs on pharmaceutical goods may be less aggressive than feared, while allowing patients to buy discounted prescription drugs through a new federal website. Luxury giants were also higher as markets assessed...
The Hang Seng ended little changed to end at 23,333 on Monday, swinging early drop amid gains mainly from consumer stocks. Sentiment improved after China's April factory activity showed strength despite rising U.S. tariffs. Meantime, new home prices in the mainland fell the least in 11 months, though it marked the 22nd straight monthly drop. Investors also awaited a scheduled call between U.S. President Trump and Russian Putin, hoping it could ease tensions over the war in Ukraine. Locally, Hong Kong's economy expanded 3.1% yoy in Q1 2025, in line with flash estimates and up from a revised...
The Nikkei fell 255 points or 0.7% to close at 37,499 after a flat performance in the prior session, while the broader Topix edged down almost 0.1%, marking its second consecutive subdued day. A sharp drop in U.S. futures rattled sentiment after Moody's downgrade of the U.S. credit outlook raised fears of a potential flight from U.S. assets. Meanwhile, the White House kept up trade pressure, with Treasury Secretary Bessent warning that partners would face maximum tariffs if they failed to negotiate "in good faith." Investors remained cautious, closely watching U.S.-Japan trade talks as...
European stocks dipped on Monday, snapping a five-week winning streak, as a surprise U.S. credit rating downgrade and weak economic data from China weighed on investor sentiment. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.5% by 0725 GMT, retreating from seven-week highs touched on Friday. U.S. stock index futures fell more than 1% and longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields rose after credit rating agency Moody's cut its ratings on the country's debt, citing concerns about the nation's growing $36 trillion debt pile. Euro zone government bond yields also edged higher. [GVD/EUR] Meanwhile,...
Asia-Pacific markets fell Monday as investors assess the latest slate of economic data from China and Moody's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined 0.73%, while mainland China's CSI 300 dropped 0.48%. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 22 slipped 0.54% while the Topix lost 0.36%. South Korea's Kospi declined 0.47% and the small-cap Kosdaq traded 0.77% lower. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.15%.On Friday, Moody's Ratings downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit rating by one level from Aaa to Aa1, citing mounting challenges in funding the federal...
(Hong Kong) The Hong Kong stock market opened on a softer note on May 19, with the Hang Seng Index (HSI) down 188 points, or 0.8%, at 23,156. The China Enterprises Index dropped 69 points, or 0.81%, to 8,399, while the Technology Index fell 53 points, or 1.01%, to 5,227. Technology stocks saw broad declines. Alibaba Group slid 2.8%, Meituan lost 1.7%, Xiaomi Corporation and JD.com both fell 1.3%, and Kuaishou dropped 0.8%. Tencent Holdings remained unchanged. The financial sector also struggled, with HSBC Holdings down 0.2%, AIA Group declining 0.9%, Ping An Insurance losing 1.1%, and Hong...