European stocks ended mixed on the last trading day of the year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed a shortened trading session 0.1% lower on Wednesday, with most sector indexes in negative territory. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 ended the day down 0.2%, bringing the index to an annual gain of 21.5% – its strongest yearly gain since 2009. Meanwhile, France's CAC 40 ended New Year's Eve down 0.2%, while Germany's DAX rose 0.6%. Italy's FTSE MIB gained 1.1%, bringing annual gains to 31.5% and its best year since 1998. Markets were open for a half-day of trading on Wednesday, and will be closed...
The Nikkei 225 index weakened slightly by 0.1% to 49,336.22 after losing early gains. This decline followed declines in most US stock markets in the previous session, prompting Japanese investors to remain cautious. US employment data released Tuesday provided mixed signals for the market. According to the Sucden Financial research team, investors are reluctant to draw too many conclusions from the data. Expectations of further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve are also considered to be delayed, thus curbing risk appetite. Several stocks recorded significant declines. Eneos...
Asian stocks opened lower after weak US employment data did little to change expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.1%, extending its decline to a third day. This decline followed Wall Street, where the S&P 500 fell again, although the Nasdaq 100 still recorded a slight gain. Government bonds and the US dollar held steady after weakening in the previous session. Oil prices actually strengthened, with WTI rising more than 1% after President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela....
European stocks closed lower on Tuesday, with the STOXX 50 down 0.5% and the broader STOXX 600 slipping 0.4%, as optimism around Russia–Ukraine peace efforts prompted investors to reassess the outlook for military spending and weighed on defense shares. Defense names declined sharply, led by Rheinmetall (-4.6%), alongside losses in BAE Systems (-1.7%), Leonardo (-3.9%) and Thales (-1.6%). Technology heavyweights also pressured the market, with ASML Holding down 2.1% and SAP falling 1.4%, as softer global growth signals dampened appetite for cyclical tech exposure. In contrast, LVMH...
Stocks fell slightly on Tuesday as traders digested the delayed release of the November's jobs report. The S&P 500 fell 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite pulled back about 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered around the flatline. November's jobs report came in better than expected, showing an increase of 64,000 jobs for the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones predicted that nonfarm payrolls would grow by 45,000 in the period. However, the BLS reported that October shed 105,000 jobs. The unemployment rate also increased to 4.6%,...
The Hang Seng Index fell 393 points, or 1.5%, to 25,217 on Tuesday (December 16), closing at a nearly four-week low and extending the previous session's sharp decline as mainland Chinese stocks slumped further and traders grew nervous ahead of key US economic data this week. Meanwhile, China's economy showed more signs of slowing in November, with disappointing industrial output and retail sales. Property stocks led the decline amid concerns of a prolonged downturn, particularly after China Vanke said it would hold a second bondholder meeting after failing to secure approval to extend a...