Europe's STOXX 600 closed at a record high on Wednesday, with healthcare stocks leading the way after a U.S.-Pfizer deal reduced uncertainty in the sector, while investors digested the beginning of a U.S. government shutdown. The pan-European STOXX 600 surged 1.2% to log its biggest one-day percentage gain since July 23. Most regional bourses were also trading higher, with London's FTSE 100 at a record high. Healthcare stocks jumped 5.4%, marking their biggest one-day performance since November 2008. On Tuesday, Pfizer agreed to lower prescription drug prices in the U.S. Medicaid programme...
The Hang Seng Index fell 0.3% at 22,941.77 in Hong Kong. The move follows the previous session's increase of 0.3%. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. contributed the most to the index decline, decreasing 2.0%. BYD Co. had the largest drop, falling 6.8%. Today, 38 of 83 shares fell, while 41 rose; 1 of 4 sectors were lower, led by commerce and industry stocks. Source : Bloomberg
European markets opened lower Tuesday as global investors brace for the start of U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, along with retaliatory action. The Stoxx 600 index had tumbled 0.84% by 8:30 a.m. in London as the Stoxx 600 basket of automotive stocks — one of the sectors expected to be most impacted by the new duties — fell 2.7%. Among the companies hit were Dodge-maker Stellantis, down 4%, and Mercedes Benz, lower by 2.8%. French defense firm Thales meanwhile jumped 11% after reporting higher income and revenue for the full-year 2024 period. The stock was among many European...
Japanese stocks ended lower as renewed concerns about U.S. tariffs hit markets across Asia. Tech and brokerage stocks led the declines. SoftBank Group dropped 4.8% and Daiwa Securities Group lost 2.7%. The Nikkei Stock Average fell 1.2% to 37331.18. Investors are focusing on any developments in U.S. trade and foreign policies. USD/JPY was at 149.38, compared with 149.50 as of Monday 5 p.m. ET. The 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose 2 basis points to 1.425%. Source: Bloomberg
Shares in Hong Kong plunged 380 points or 1.7% to 222,631 on the Tuesday morning session following modest gains in the prior session. The steep decline followed a rout on Wall Street overnight after US President Trump confirmed that tariffs on key trading partners would take effect today. Meanwhile, China's state-backed Global Times said Beijing was preparing tariff countermeasures, potentially targeting US agricultural exports and increasing the prospect of tit-for-tat tariffs. Markets notched their lowest in nearly two weeks, with all sectors dragging down the benchmark Hang Seng index....
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.6% to below 37,200, while the broader Topix Index dropped 0.7% to 2,710 on Tuesday, erasing gains from the previous session and tracking a sharp decline in US stocks overnight. This came after US President Donald Trump confirmed that tariffs on key trading partners would take effect on Tuesday. Analysts are warning that markets may be underpricing tariff risks given how quickly a global trade war could escalate. In Japan, investors reacted to data showing an unexpected rise in the unemployment rate, which climbed to 2.5% in January from 2.4% in...