The Hang Seng rose 174 points or 0.7% to close at 25,562 on Monday, rebounding from losses in the prior session amid broad-based gains, led by financials and property stocks. Sentiment improved as the U.S. and China were set to resume trade talks in Stockholm, with reports suggesting a likely three-month extension of their tariff truce. Markets were near their highest in four years, lifted by news about the U.S.–EU trade deal, which set a 15% tariff on most EU goods, half the previously threatened rate. However, gains were capped by caution ahead of Hong Kong's June trade data due later...
Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed, even as all three key benchmarks on Wall Street advanced overnight on optimism that a slowdown in the global economy will not impede the progress of developments in artificial intelligence. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.12% at the open. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.99% while the broader Topix index advanced 0.62% in early trade. Over in South Korea, the Kospi index declined 0.54% while the small-cap Kosdaq was flat. Futures tied to Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index stood at 21,935, pointing to a weaker open compared to the HSI's last close of...
Stocks rose on Thursday after strong quarterly results from two Big Tech players eased concerns that advances in artificial intelligence would slow amid economic turmoil. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 83 points, or 0.2%. The S&P 500 gained 0.6%, near its level before President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement in early April. The Nasdaq Composite rose more than 1%. Investor concerns that Trump's tariffs and a U.S. economic downturn would threaten AI trading eased after Meta Platforms posted stronger-than-expected first-quarter revenue, with Meta Chief...
Wall Street opened May on a strong note, with the S&P 500 rising 0.8%, the Dow Jones gaining 100 points, and the Nasdaq advancing 1.4%, supported by upbeat earnings from tech giants and optimism over global trade negotiations. Microsoft shares jumped 10% after the company projected stronger-than-expected growth for its Azure cloud business, while Meta gained over 6% on better-than-expected revenue. Meanwhile, General Motors climbed 1.5% after issuing a new 2025 profit forecast, while Eli Lilly lost 6% after its quarterly results and McDonald's slipped 2% following a decline in Q1...
The Nikkei 225 Index surged 1.13% to 36,452, while the broader Topix Index rose 0.46% to 2,679 on Thursday, with Japanese equities hitting a one-month high after the Bank of Japan kept its policy rate unchanged at 0.5%, as expected. Investor sentiment was further boosted by a dovish tilt in the BOJ's outlook, as the central bank cut its growth and inflation forecasts, signaling a lower likelihood of near-term rate hikes. The BOJ now projects GDP growth of 0.5% in 2025, down from 1% in its January forecast. Markets also welcomed renewed optimism over US-Japan trade talks, after President...
The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 0.5% on Thursday to surpass 36,200, reaching a one-month high as investors looked ahead to the Bank of Japan's latest monetary policy decision. The central bank is widely expected to keep its policy rate steady at 0.5%, as it assesses the possible effects of newly imposed US tariffs on Japan's export-reliant economy. Japanese shares also took cues from a positive lead on Wall Street , where investors brushed aside recession concerns after the US economy unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter. Adding to market optimism, hopes for progress in US-Japan trade...