Hong Kong shares dropped 371 points, or 1.4%, to 25,258 Tuesday morning's session, extending steep losses from the previous day as all sectors retreated. Risk appetite was burdened by declines in mainland markets after weak November data showed fragile industrial output and retail turnover amid soft external demand and shaky domestic conditions. Local equities neared their lowest in a week, following a negative lead from Wall Street, where AI and tech weakness persisted. Losses were partly offset by domestic data showing Hong Kong's manufacturing output rose for a fourth straight quarter in...
Asia-Pacific stock markets are expected to open slightly lower on Friday. Sentiment remains thin as US stock futures moved flat during the Thanksgiving holiday, while the Nasdaq Composite is on track to end its seven-month winning streak. In the region, market participants will focus on Tokyo inflation data—often a guide to Japan's national inflation—and India's fiscal second-quarter GDP data, due out this Friday. The latest data showed Tokyo's October headline inflation edged down to 2.7% from 2.8%, while core inflation rose to 2.8%, slightly above the 2.7% forecast. Core inflation in...
European stocks closed higher on Thursday as investors digested the regional and global economic outlook. The pan-European Stoxx 600 reversed course to finish 0.12% higher by the end of Thursday's session, with major bourses and sectors mostly higher following broadly negative moves earlier in the day. It comes after a positive trading session yesterday, with the Stoxx 600 closing almost 1.1% higher and most sectors and major regional bourses in the green. Global markets have been boosted this week by rising expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates when it next...
The Hang Seng added 18 points, or 0.1%, to close at 25,946 on Thursday, marking a fourth straight session of gains amid strength mainly from financials. Sentiment was lifted by Beijing's new plan to spur consumption, including rural consumer goods upgrades and support for sectors such as pets and toys. A modest rise in mainland stocks also aided risk appetite, amid optimism toward the domestic AI sector. On the data front, however, October figures showed China's industrial profits dropped for the first time in three months, reflecting weak domestic demand and export challenges. Trading was...
The Japanese stock market closed higher on Thursday, driven by strong gains in the Real Estate, Banking, and Textile sectors. The Nikkei 225 index rose 1.28%, with three stocks performing particularly well: Resonac Holdings, which surged 8.85% to a five-year high; Toppan Printing, which set an all-time record after rising 7.32%; and Denka Co. Ltd., which surged 6.10% to a 52-week high. Overall, there were far more gainers than decliners: 2,323 stocks rose, while 1,252 declined. On the other hand, several healthcare stocks were under pressure. Eisai Co. fell 2.70%, followed by Shionogi &...
Hong Kong stocks rallied again at the start of trading on Thursday, with the Hang Seng Index rising around 82 points, or 0.3%, to 26,012. This marked the fourth consecutive day of gains, in line with Wall Street's rally, which also saw four consecutive sessions amid growing expectations of a Fed rate cut in December. All sectors on the Hang Seng opened in the green, with technology and property stocks leading the gains. Sentiment was also helped by a rebound in major mainland Chinese stock markets after a brief correction. However, the rally was tempered by the latest data showing that...