The European stock markets closed lower in Thursday trading as the FTSE 100 in London slid 0.05%, Germany's DAX dropped 0.73%, France's CAC 40 fell 1.14%, The Stoxx Europe 600 slipped 0.71%, and the Swiss Market Index lost 0.8%. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the eurozone stood at 6.2% in June, unchanged from a revised figure in May, according to Eurostat data. In Germany, import prices dropped 1.4% year-over-year in June after a 1.1% fall in May, according to the country's Federal Statistical Office. German import prices were unchanged on a monthly basis. In corporate news,...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained ground on Thursday, climbing over 650 points or 1.6% after the Trump administration announced an incoming (but still not signed) trade deal with the United Kingdom (UK). Under the trade deal, most imports from the UK will still see a 10% tariff across the board, but markets are taking the news as a sign that the Trump administration will continue to at least partially walk back its own tariffs over time. Investors are still hoping for a quick resolution to the escalating US-China trade war that has steep 145% import taxes on most goods from...
US stocks rose on Thursday, with the S&P 500 rising 0.6%, the Nasdaq adding 0.9% and the Dow Jones jumping 230 points, as investors welcomed President Trump's announcement of a US-UK trade deal. Sentiment was further boosted by reports that the administration is preparing to roll back some Biden-era restrictions on chipmakers. Consumer discretionary, energy and communication services were by far the top performers while health and utilities underperformed. Megacaps Apple (0.6%), Microsoft (1.6%), Nvidia (0.5%), Amazon (1.2%), Meta (2.2%), Alphabet (1.2%) and Tesla (3.2%) were all...
The Hang Seng rose 84 points or 0.4% to close at 22,776 on Thursday, marking its sixth straight gain amid a rally in U.S. futures. Optimism was fueled by President Trump's hint at a major trade deal with a "big, and highly respected country," likely the UK, with more details later today. The index hovered near a one-month top, lifted by news that a sovereign wealth fund would continue efforts to support mainland markets. Sentiment also benefited from the PBOC rate cuts aimed at supporting growth amid U.S.-China trade disputes. Tech stocks advanced on reports that the U.S. may ease chip...
European stocks edged higher on Thursday, with the Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 both up 0.3%, as investors awaited central bank rate decisions and monitor corporate earnings. Optimism also grew around UK-U.S. trade ties, as reports suggest Britain may become the first country to strike a deal following new U.S. tariffs. In corporate headlines, Puma SE delivered a stable Q1 performance, offering reassurance despite lacking a CEO. AB InBev posted profits at the top end of its guidance, helped by better-than-expected sales volumes. Maersk also beat expectations for Q1 operating profit and held its...
Hong Kong stocks rose 187 points, or 0.8%, to 22,881 in early trading on Thursday, extending gains for a sixth straight session amid a small rise in U.S. stock futures after the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate steady for a third straight meeting, as expected. Echoing the Fed, the HKMA also kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.75%. Market sentiment was further boosted by reports that President Trump will hold a press conference to discuss a major trade deal later in the day. In China, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) unveiled sweeping policy measures on Wednesday,...