European equity markets extended their rally on the first trading day of 2026, with benchmark indices pushing to fresh record highs despite thin liquidity following the New Year holiday. Gains were led by defense stocks, underpinned by persistent geopolitical tensions and expectations of increased military spending across the region. The STOXX 50 climbed 0.7% to a new all-time high of 5,830 points, while the broader STOXX 600 rose 0.4% to a record 595 points. The strong start to the year follows a robust performance in 2025, when the STOXX 50 advanced about 18% and the STOXX 600 rose 17%,...
European stocks closed higher on Thursday (December 2nd), supported by a rebound in shares of major banks and automakers. The Eurozone STOXX 50 and the broader STOXX 600 both rose 0.5%. Inditex jumped 2.6%, extending its gains from the previous session after the conglomerate posted strong results and confirmed its full-year outlook. Similarly, Stellantis rose 3.6%, extending this week's rally to more than 10% after its rating was upgraded by UBS. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen each rose more than 3%, leading the broader auto sector's gains amid a rating upgrade from Bank of America....
Stocks in the US were higher on Thursday, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rising 0.2% and the Dow Jones adding about 80 points, led by gains in financials and communication services. Shares of Meta soared almost 4% after Bloomberg reported executives are considering potential budget cuts as high as 30% for the metaverse group next year. JPMorgan also added more than 1%, Nvidia gained 0.5% and Salesforce was up 0.7% after the company offered a stronger-than-expected revenue forecast. Meanwhile, traders continue to bet the Fed will deliver another rate cut next week. The odds for...
The Hang Seng rose 175 points or 0.7% to close at 25,936 on Thursday, partly rebounding from a steep fall the prior day amid firmer U.S. futures ahead of Friday's PCE index and the Fed's final policy meeting of the year, where a 25bps rate cut is widely expected. Meanwhile, China may keep its 2026 growth target at around 5% as top leaders convene later this month to map out next year's economic agenda. On the corporate front, Country Garden secured shareholder approval for USD 13 billion in convertible bonds as the indebted builder pushes forward with its debt restructuring. CMOC Hong Kong...
The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 2.33% to close at 51,028, while the broader Topix Index rose 1.92% to 3,398 on Thursday, with the latter hitting fresh record highs as robot makers and technology shares rallied on renewed investor interest. Fanuc led the advance, surging 13% after the automation company recently announced a partnership with Nvidia to develop industrial robots. Other robotics firms posted strong gains as well, including Yaskawa Electric (11.4%) and Nabtesco (11.3%). Major tech names also climbed, with notable increases in SoftBank Group (9.2%), Lasertec (6.2%) and Disco Corp...
The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 2.33% to close at 51,028, while the broader Topix Index rose 1.92% to 3,398 on Thursday, with the latter hitting fresh record highs as robot makers and technology shares rallied on renewed investor interest. Fanuc led the advance, surging 13% after the automation company recently announced a partnership with Nvidia to develop industrial robots. Other robotics firms posted strong gains as well, including Yaskawa Electric (11.4%) and Nabtesco (11.3%). Major tech names also climbed, with notable increases in SoftBank Group (9.2%), Lasertec (6.2%) and Disco Corp...