Japanese stocks are lower due to a stronger yen and uncertainty over the impact of U.S. tariffs on corporate earnings. Auto, shipping and energy stocks lead declines. Mitsubishi Motors is down 2.1% and Kawasaki Kisen is 2.0% lower. Inpex is down 3.1% after crude oil prices fell overnight. USD/JPY is at 148.58, down from 148.81 as of Monday's Tokyo stock market close. Investors are closely watching any developments related to the leadership election for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan set for Saturday. The Nikkei Stock Average is down 0.1% at 45007.00. Source: Bloomberg.com
European stocks closed sharply higher for a second session on Thursday with continued support from its main sectors as amid optimism that tariffs from the United States will remain below the levels that were previously threatened. The STOXX 50 gained 0.9% to 5,437 and the STOXX 600 added 0.5% to 553. The EU Commission noted it is likely to finalize parts of the trade agreements with the US, holding tariffs on most goods at 15% instead of the steeper threats by US President Trump. Allianz gained over 2%, tracking the strong performances for insurers and reinsurers after Swiss Re delivered...
Stocks slipped on Thursday after a new inflation report showed that wholesale costs rose more than expected last month The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 200 points, or about 0.5%. The S&P 500 shed 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.3%. Investors came into the session riding high, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting fresh record highs in the previous session. The benchmarks got a jolt earlier this week after the release of a cooler-than-expected consumer price inflation report for July. That report stoked hopes among investors for a rate cut from the Federal Reserve at the...
The Hang Seng fell 94 points or 0.4% to end at 25,519 on Thursday, snapping the three-day winning streak after reversing early gains. Sentiment weakened ahead of China's July activity data due Friday, with investors wary of the impact from U.S. tariffs, soft demand, and recent adverse weather. Industrial output and retail sales in the mainland are expected to slow, while the jobless rate may edge higher. Meantime, fresh data showed new yuan loans logged their first monthly drop since 2005, as banks typically ease lending in July. Most sectors declined, led by tech, consumer, and...
Major European bourses edged higher on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 both up 0.1%—marking a third straight session of gains and trading near one-month highs. Investors remained focused on economic data, corporate earnings, and geopolitical developments, with Presidents Trump and Putin set to meet tomorrow. Optimism was also supported by expectations that the Fed will deliver a 25 bps cut to the federal funds rate next month. Among megacaps, SAP (+0.1%) and ASML Holding (+0.4%) advanced, while LVMH, Hermès, Nestlé, and Novo Nordisk were little changed. On the earnings front,...
The Nikkei 225 fell 1.45% to close at 42,649, while the broader Topix dropped 1.1% to 3,058 on Thursday, as Japanese stocks pulled back from record highs amid profit taking. The market had rallied earlier in the week after softer US inflation data boosted expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut next month. A strong earnings season in Japan and an improving global trade outlook also added to bullish sentiment. On the policy front, the Bank of Japan faces mounting pressure to abandon an inflation gauge tied to domestic demand and wage growth that has so far restrained further...