European stock markets edged higher on Monday, as investors looked ahead to a trading week due to feature key economic data and a potential U.S. government shutdown. The pan-European Stoxx 600 had climbed by 0.3%, while the Dax in Germany gained 0.2%, the CAC 40 in France rose 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in the U.K. increased around 0.2%. Shares of Britain's GSK rallied over 2%, boosting the wider health care sector, on news that the drugmaker's CEO Emma Walmsley will step down. Walmsley is due to be replaced by Luke Miels in January. AstraZeneca's stock price also ticked up after the U.K....
The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.2% to around 43,100 and the Topix gained 0.8% to 3,105 on Friday, with Japanese equities rising for a second session after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order cutting tariffs on Japanese cars to 15% from 27.5%. The order also cemented an agreement for $550 billion in Japanese investments in US projects. Sentiment was further lifted by a strong Wall Street rally as soft US labor data bolstered bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut this month. Domestically, data showed Japan's real wages turned positive in August for the first time since December,...
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday formalizing a lower Japanese auto import tariff of 15%, down from 27.5%.The order also confirms the agreement for $550 billion of Japanese investments in U.S. projects.Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.39% and the Topix added 0.86% after Japan's July household spending rose 1.4% year over year. South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.26% while the Kosdaq jumped 0.35%.Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.58%.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was on course to open lower, with the futures contract at 25,021,...
The S&P 500 closed at a fresh record high after an afternoon boost pushed stocks solidly into the green as traders shook off weak private employment data earlier in the day. A big jobs report now looms over the market, with traders wanting a figure Friday that bolsters rate cut chances without causing a scare about a recession. The broad market S&P 500 finished up 0.83% at 6,502.08, while the Nasdaq Composite settled up 0.98% at 21,707.69. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 350.06 points, or 0.77%, at 45,621.29. The ADP private payrolls report showed an increase of 54,000...
European stocks closed firmly higher on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 and the STOXX 600 adding 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively, extending the rebound from the prior session as long-dated yields edged lower and eased concerns of higher credit costs. Yields were further pressured by pessimistic labor market data in the US following a batch of pessimistic signals about the labor market in the world's largest economy, consolidating bets of incoming rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Travel stocks were among the weakest performers, with Jet2 plunging 12.5 after cutting its winter 2025–26 capacity...
The three major averages in the US swing between small gains and losses on Thursday, as traders digest the latest batch of economic data and what it means for the Fed's plans. The US private sector added only 54K jobs in August, reinforcing signs that the labor market is losing momentum and strengthening expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this month. Initial jobless claims also rose to 237K, the highest in nearly two months. This followed Wednesday's weaker-than-expected JOLTS report. On the other hand, the ISM Services PMI rose more-than-expected to a six-month high. Investors are...