The S&P 500 rose 0.4% on Friday (July 25), notching its fifth consecutive record close—its longest streak in more than a year—while the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.2% after hitting an intraday high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 208 points as investors digested a wave of trade developments and corporate earnings. Optimism surrounding trade talks contributed to the rally, with President Trump scheduled to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday amid hopes of a US-EU deal. Deals were also reached with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines ahead of the...
Australia's central bank cuts interest rate for the first time in more than four yearsThe Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut benchmark interest rates for the first time in over four years, joining ranks with other major global central banks, as softening inflation allows room for easing policy. The RBA cut rates by 25 basis points to 4.10%. This marked the RBA's first easing since November 2020, when the central bank cut its key rate to a record low, as it battled a slowing economy during the pandemic. The central bank had held its policy rate steady at 4.35% since November 2023,...
The Hang Seng Index opened higher on Monday, gaining 48 points or 0.21% to reach 22,664. The China Enterprises Index rose by 20 points or 0.24% to 8,343, while the Technology Index climbed 19 points or 0.36% to 5,519. Technology stocks showed mixed performance. Tencent Holdings edged up 0.1%, while Alibaba fell by 0.1%. Meituan and JD.com both gained 0.7%, with Kuaishou Technology rising 0.1%. Xiaomi Corporation remained unchanged. Financial stocks exhibited varied results, with HSBC Holdings advancing 0.7%, while AIA Group and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing saw no movement. Ping An...
The Nikkei 225 Index gained 0.2%, surpassing 39,250, while the broader Topix Index added 0.15% to reach 2,770 on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session as the yen halted its recent rally, easing pressure on domestic equities. On Monday, data revealed that Japan's economy grew by 0.7% quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter, up from 0.4% growth in the previous quarter and exceeding expectations of 0.3%. On an annualized basis, Japan's GDP expanded by 2.8% in Q4, in line with forecasts and accelerating from a 1.7% increase in Q3. However, investor sentiment remained cautious after...
Asia-Pacific markets were set to open mixed Tuesday, a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled support to the country's private sector and urged businesses to "show their "talents." Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.43%, ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy decision. Reuters estimates a 25-basis-point rate cut to 4.1%. The Australian dollar had strengthened 0.05% to 635 against the dollar. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 started the day 0.28% higher, while the broader Topix index advanced 0.37%. South Korea's Kospi was marginally higher, while the small-cap Kosdaq...
European stocks bounced back on Monday, with the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 closing about 0.5% higher at new records, boosted by a surge in defense stocks amid expectations of increased defense spending by European governments. European leaders meet in Paris today to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine and formulate a response after the U.S. signaled limits to its support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, U.S.-Russian negotiations on the Ukraine war are set to begin this week in Saudi Arabia, although uncertainty persists over Ukraine's participation, and European countries were not invited. Also,...