European stocks were on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 up 1% and the STOXX 600 gaining 0.6%, extending the previous session's rally that drove both benchmarks to fresh record closes. Technology shares were among the top performers, buoyed by momentum in Asia following OpenAI's agreement with South Korean chipmakers. Pharma stocks also extended gains after a relief rally in the prior session, amid signs that US President Trump's threatened tariffs on branded drugs may be less severe than feared after Pfizer struck a deal with the administration to offer discounted prescriptions through a new...
The Hang Seng rallied 338 points or 1.6% to end at 21,395 on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session's weakness. The recovery tracked a surge in US futures after President Trump cited "big progress" in negotiations aimed at helping Japan avoid higher tariffs. Investor sentiment was also boosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for regional unity and an "Asian family" during his Southeast Asia tour. Gains were broad-based, led by tech, property, and consumer sectors. However, upside momentum was capped after Fed Chair Powell warned that tariffs could slow growth and push up...
Major European bourses traded lower on Thursday, with both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 down 0.4% as investors digest fresh corporate earnings, look ahead to the European Central Bank's upcoming policy decision and continue to follow the trade war. Hermes shares fell 3% after the luxury brand reported a 7% year-on-year revenue increase in Q1, falling short of expectations for 7.6%. In contrast, Siemens Energy surged nearly 10% after the company raised its outlook for fiscal 2025, with first-quarter revenue and profit also exceeding forecasts. Meanwhile, the ECB is widely expected to deliver...
The Nikkei 225 index rose 1.35% to close at 34,377 while the broader Topix index jumped 1.29% to 2,530 on Thursday, reversing losses from the previous session as progress in U.S.-Japan trade talks lifted market sentiment. President Donald Trump met with Japanese Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa, with discussions reportedly expanding to include the cost of troop deployment, adding a geopolitical dimension to the negotiations. On the economic front, Japan's March export growth missed expectations, dragged down by weak demand from China and the EU. However, a return to positive import growth...
Hong Kong stocks rose 266 points, or 1.3%, to 21,324 in early trade on Thursday, led by broad sector gains. The gains followed a weak session and came amid a surge in U.S. stock futures, following an overnight sell-off on Wall Street sparked by Fed Chair Powell's warning that trade tensions could threaten the Fed's inflation and employment targets. Meanwhile, mainland Chinese markets attempted to extend their four-day winning streak after better-than-expected Q1 GDP data. Additionally, reports suggested that Beijing was seeking specific steps from President Trump before agreeing to trade...
Asian stocks traded in a tight range and the yen weakened after US-Japan trade talks advanced, as investors adopt a wait-and-see approach to see how other tariff negotiations unfold. Japanese shares gained slightly after President Donald Trump said negotiators made "big progress" in talks to strike a deal to avoid higher levies. The yen weakened after the country's chief trade negotiator said currencies weren't discussed. Gold advanced to a record while Treasury yields and a gauge of the dollar inched up. The progress in discussions with Japan, "while preliminary, offer a...