The Nikkei 225 index closed higher on Friday, December 19, 2025, rising by around 1.16% to 49,568. This gain attracted attention because it occurred amidst news of a Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate hike, which typically depresses the stock market. The key factor: although the BOJ raised interest rates 25 bps to 0.75%, its policy tone remained cautious and gradual, so the market assessed that further increases would not be aggressive. This meant that investors felt the risk of a "painful" tightening for the economy was not yet too great. Furthermore, the yen's weakening following the...
The European stock markets closed higher in Wednesday trading as the Stoxx Europe gained 1.06%, Germany's DAX rose 0.98%, the FTSE 100 advanced 0.85%, France's CAC was up 0.88%, and the Swiss Market Index increased 0.40%. The European Central Bank reported in its Financial Stability Review for November that uncertainties around trade agreements," as well as the economic and financial effects of tariffs, "continue to shape the euro area financial stability landscape." The ECB said exposure to tariff-sensitive firms and stronger funding ties with non-banks could strain euro area banks during...
The Hang Seng inched up 33 points or 0.1% to finish at 25,928 on Wednesday, marking a third straight session of gain amid a rise in U.S. futures as recent economic data bolstered expectations of a Fed rate cut in December. Most sectors in the city advanced, led by property and financials, even as mainland markets eased ahead of industrial profit figures due Thursday. Locally, Hong Kong's exports held near a four-year high in October, while imports saw their strongest growth in five months. On the corporate front, Alibaba reported stronger-than-expected quarterly revenue, supported by rising...
Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday as artificial intelligence (AI)-related stocks rallied and hopes for a US interest rate cut grew. The Topix index rose 2% to 3,355.50 as of 3:30 p.m. Tokyo time, while the Nikkei 225 gained 1.8% to 49,559.07. Of the 1,668 stocks on the Topix index, 1,471 rose, only 166 fell, and 31 remained unchanged. The positive sentiment was largely driven by comments from Fed Governor Christopher Waller, who supported a December interest rate cut. This statement fueled speculation that borrowing costs in the US would fall, making the global investment climate more...
European stocks are expected to open higher across the spectrum as expectations rise that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in December. The U.K.'s FTSE index is seen opening 0.25% higher, Germany's DAX up 0.7%, France's CAC 40 up 0.67% and Italy's FTSE MIB 0.64% higher, according to data from IG. Regional bourses look set to follow their counterparts on Wall Street and in the Asia-Pacific region higher amid expectations that the Fed will cut when it next meets on Dec. 9 and 10. Markets are pricing in almost an 85% chance of a quarter percentage point cut by the central...
Hong Kong stocks rose again for a third straight day on Wednesday, approaching their longest winning streak in two weeks. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.6% to 26,039.99, supported by tech stocks such as Meituan, which surged 6.6% ahead of its earnings release, ZTO Express (up 3.5%), BYD (up 2.7%), and JD.com (up 1.8%). Meanwhile, Alibaba edged down 0.1% after its September-quarter profit plunged 52% year-on-year, although the decline was still better than market expectations. Positive sentiment also spread to mainland China, with the CSI 300 index rising 0.5% and the Shanghai Composite Index...