The Hang Seng slipped 224 points, or 0.9%, to close early at 25,630 on the final trading day of 2025, as markets closed early ahead of the New Year. The index reversed the prior session's strength as losses spread across all sectors, with tech, consumer, and financial stocks leading the declines. Still, the index posted a second straight annual gain, climbing nearly 28% in 2025. The rally was boosted by a buoyant IPO market in Hong Kong, easing U.S. China trade tensions, and Beijing's pledge to support economic growth through proactive fiscal spending and accommodative monetary...
The Hang Seng edged down to finish at 25,530 on Thursday, reversing early gains amid declines in tech and consumer stocks. Sentiment weakened as Chinese markets fell for a third consecutive session after Mexico approved a new tariff package, many from China, with rates of up to 50% starting January 1, 2026. The levies target hundreds of products such as metals, vehicles, clothing, and appliances. At the same time, concerns grew that Beijing might delay stronger property stimulus after the December Politburo meeting made no mention of urbanization, with analysts expecting any major steps...
The Nikkei 225 index closed down around 0.9% at 50,150 on Thursday, down nearly 450 points from the previous day. The main pressure came from the technology sector and stocks related to the AI/chip theme, with shares of giants like SoftBank plunging sharply after global sentiment toward AI spending wavered following Oracle's disappointing financial report. Regionally, Asian markets also tended to be mixed to weaker despite earlier gains on Wall Street, limiting room for upside in the Nikkei. From a fundamental perspective, the Japanese market is being squeezed in two directions: on the one...
Hong Kong stocks rose around 201 points (0.8%) to 25,733 in Thursday's morning session, extending their gains for a second day. This rise was driven by positive sentiment from Wall Street after the Fed cut interest rates in line with market expectations. Traders remain hopeful of further easing, although the US central bank has signaled a temporary pause. In Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority followed the Fed's lead and cut interest rates to their lowest level since October 2022, keeping Hong Kong's monetary policy in line with the US. Gains were broad-based, particularly in the...
Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Thursday morning after the Federal Reserve delivered its third interest rate cut this year. The Fed cut the Fed Funds Rate by 25 bps to a range of 3.5%–3.75% and signaled that the rate-cutting cycle may be temporarily paused. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized that they are now in a "comfortable" position to wait and see economic developments, while highlighting that President Donald Trump's tariffs are actually a driver of inflation. In the region, positive sentiment was immediately reflected in major stock indices. Japan's Nikkei 225 opened...
The Nikkei index opened up around 0.2% to 50,707.54, following positive sentiment on Wall Street after the Fed cut interest rates. Today's gains were led by financial and trading house stocks; Dai-ichi Life Holdings rose around 2.4%, while Sumitomo Corp. gained around 2.5%, reflecting a return to risk appetite in the Japanese stock market. On the currency side, USD/JPY weakened to 155.62 from 156.73 at the previous close, signaling a strengthening yen following the Fed's decision. Investors are now focusing on the release of domestic economic data and PM Sanae Takaichi's policy statement...