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...
Asian stocks weakened in Tuesday's trading as market participants began to worry about the direction of the Fed's future policy easing, not just the near-certain interest rate cut this week. The MSCI Asia Index fell around 0.2%, with Korean, Japanese, and Australian markets opening lower. Meanwhile, US stock futures actually gained slightly after the S&P 500 fell 0.3% on Monday and US bond yields rose, in line with the decline in global bond prices. Australian bond yields also rose ahead of the local central bank's interest rate decision. The main market focus is the Fed's decision on...
Japanese stocks rallied in recent trading, led by the machinery and electronics sector, which benefited from a weaker yen. Kawasaki Heavy Industries shares rose around 3.4%, while Tokyo Electron Ltd. gained 2.1%. In the foreign exchange market, the USD/JPY pair hovered around 155.83, up from 155.26 at the Tokyo stock market close on Monday, making Japanese exporters' shares more attractive. Investors are now focused on the release of economic data ahead of next week's Bank of Japan (BoJ) policy meeting, which could provide clues to the direction of interest rates and monetary policy going...
US stocks extended losses to close lower on Monday, with the S&P 500 down 0.3%, the Dow Jones off 0.4% and the Nasdaq slipping 0.2% as investors reassessed the 2026 Fed policy path. A Wednesday cut remains priced in at roughly 90% yet firmer inflation signals have kept expectations tethered to a cautious stance. Markets also monitored a dramatic turn in the bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery (+4.4%) after Paramount Skydance launched a $30 per share offer that topped Netflix's $27.75 cash-and-stock bid; Paramount climbed 9% while Netflix fell 3.4%. Other notable movers included...
European stocks closed slightly lower on Monday as global investors focused on the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision this week. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally ended the session 0.07% lower, with major regional bourses and sectors mixed, at closed at 4:30 p.m. in London (11:30 a.m. ET). The Fed is widely expected to cut its key interest rate at its final meeting of the year, with traders pricing in around an 87% chance of a 25-basis-point cut this Wednesday when the central bank concludes its two-day meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The Fed's decision...
The Hang Seng Index plunged 320 points, or 1.2%, to close at 25,765 on Monday (December 8), reversing gains from the previous two sessions as most sectors weakened, particularly the financial, property, and consumer staples sectors. Deflationary risks persist ahead of the November CPI and PPI data in mainland China later this week. Investors are also growing nervous ahead of the likely Politburo meeting and the annual Central Economic Work Conference in China, as they seek guidance on policy direction for 2026. However, the weakness was partially offset by regulatory easing in China, with...