Stocks in Hong Kong surged 413 points, or 1.6%, to 26,043 in early trade on the first trading day of 2026, rebounding from losses in the previous session as markets reopened after the New Year break. Sentiment was lifted by a marked rise in U.S. futures, following solid year-end gains on Wall Street in 2025. While U.S. equities underperformed the strong returns of the past two years, annual gains remained resilient despite a global sell-off triggered by tariff announcements in April. All sectors of the Hang Seng Index participated in the rally, led by tech, consumer, and property stocks....
Japanese shares rose on Friday as the Bank of Japan is expected to hold rates in March, with most economists seeing a 25-basis-point hike to 0.75% in July. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.84%, or 310.82 points, to end at 37,100.85. A Reuters poll showed about 70% of economists expect the Bank of Japan to raise rates to 0.75% in the third quarter, likely in July, up from 65% in February. Nearly 90% foresee negative effects on Japan's economy from US President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Markets are pricing in a quarter-point hike by September or October, with a 25% chance of another increase by...
Hong Kong stocks rose on Friday, halting a five-day slump, as investors resumed buying tech companies on optimism advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will sustain a bull run this year. Port operator CK Hutchison plunged on concerns about its politically-charged asset sale. The Hang Seng Index increased 0.9 per cent to 23,677.68 as of 10am local time, following a 3.7 per cent loss over the preceding five trading days stoked by worries about trade wars. The Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 0.8 per cent while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.8 per cent. Alibaba Group Holding rose 2.9...
The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 0.4% to surpass 36,900, while the broader Topix Index edged up 0.15% to 2,702 on Friday, as investors snapped up beaten-down technology stocks. Despite the rebound, market sentiment remained fragile amid escalating global trade tensions. In the latest trade dispute, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on all alcoholic products from the European Union, retaliating against the bloc's 50% tariff on American whiskey. Meanwhile, investors continued to monitor Bank of Japan policy signals, as Governor Kazuo Ueda reaffirmed plans to reduce the...
Asia-Pacific markets are slated to open mixed on Friday after all three benchmarks in the U.S. tumbled over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans. In another sign of a trade war escalation, Trump threatened to enact 200% tariffs on all alcoholic products coming from the European Union in retaliation for the bloc's 50% tariff on whisky. Trump said he would not be changing his mind on a broader group of tariffs set to be implemented on April 2. Australia's S&P/ASX 200started the day 0.4% higher, following losses in the previous session. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225was set to open...
Stocks fell on Thursday, with equities unable to shake a three-week market rout under the weight of new tariff threats from President Donald Trump. The S&P 500 dropped about 1.39% to settle at 5,521.52, ending the day in correction and 10.1% off its record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 537.36 points, or 1.3%, marking its fourth day of declines and closing at 40,813.57. The Nasdaq Composite shed 1.96% with shares like Tesla and Apple lower.Trump took to his Truth Social platform Thursday morning to threaten 200% tariffs on all alcoholic products coming from countries in...