The Nikkei 225 added 64 points, or 0.1%, to close at 50,408 on Thursday, swinging from a slight dip in the prior session after Wall Street's S&P 500 and Dow Jones hit fresh record highs on Wednesday. Trading was subdued in holiday-thinned conditions as investors awaited cabinet approval of Japan's FY2026 budget, estimated at JPY 122 trillion, a second consecutive record, potentially as early as Friday. Gains were tempered by caution ahead of key domestic data due Friday, including December Tokyo CPI, November unemployment and retail sales, plus flash industrial output. Technology...
The S&P 500 was little changed on Wednesday, as fresh jobs data exacerbated concerns about the economy and appeared to distract from hopes of a compromise on President Donald Trump's controversial tariffs. The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 162 points, or 0.4%, after dropping more than 1,300 points over the past two sessions. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said late Tuesday that he expected an announcement on a deal with Canada and Mexico. Lutnick added earlier Wednesday that Trump was considering which...
The Hang Seng jumped 652 points, or 2.8%, to close at 23,594 on Wednesday, reversing a modest decline in the previous session, supported by broad gains across sectors. Sentiment improved after China set a GDP growth target of around 5% for 2025, maintaining the same pace as in 2024 despite the trade dispute with the US. Beijing also pledged fresh support for domestic consumption and the technology industry while cutting its annual inflation target to around 2%, the first adjustment in more than two decades from its previous target of 3%. Meanwhile, US index futures jumped after Wall Street...
European stocks opened higher on Wednesday amid optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico could be eased, with investors also eyeing potential reforms to Germany's controversial debt brake system. The Stoxx 600 index rose 1.05% shortly after the open, following a broad decline in global equities on Tuesday on tariff concerns. The Stoxx autos index, which had fallen nearly 6% in the previous session, rebounded 2.4%. Utilities and food and beverages were among the sectors in the red. On Tuesday, the conservative alliance and the Social Democrats — the two...
Japan stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Shipbuilding, Textile and Marine Transport sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.16%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803), which rose 7.42% or 431.00 points to trade at 6,239.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Yokogawa Electric Corp. (TYO:6841) added 6.69% or 188.50 points to end at 3,005.00 and IHI Corp. (TYO:7013) was up 6.09% or 640.00 points to 11,145.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Konami Corp. (TYO:9766), which...
Hong Kong's equities surged 268 points or 1.2% to 23,205 in early trading on Wednesday, rebounding from a modest decline in the prior session. Investors reacted positively to a copy of China's work report, which set a 2025 GDP growth target of around 5% and outlined stimulus measures to support the economy, amid rising trade tensions with the US. On the inflation front, the document showed Beijing lowered the annual inflation target to around 2% for the first time in over two decades. Traders also welcomed private survey data indicating an unexpected rebound in services activity from...