Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered near the flatline on Wednesday, as investors weighed ongoing geopolitical tensions and major central bank decisions. Markets continued to monitor the conflict between Israel and Iran, which is now in its sixth day, with no sign of a ceasefire. Concerns persisted over the potential for escalation and the possibility of greater U.S. involvement, especially after President Trump called for Iran's unconditional surrender. At the same time, traders remained cautious ahead of the Fed's monetary policy decision. While the central bank is widely expected to...
Hong Kong stocks declined for a second straight session on Wednesday as escalating tensions in the Middle East fueled concerns about potential supply disruptions, while investors awaited signals on new stimulus from the Lujiazui Forum. The Hang Seng Index slipped 269.61 points, or 1.1%, to 23,710.69, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 100.48 points, or 1.2%, to 8,594.19. Markets tracked developments in the Israel-Iran conflict, now in its sixth day of direct exchanges. US President Donald Trump met his national security team in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the situation,...
Wall Street's main indexes ticked up on Wednesday, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision, while the Israel-Iran attacks entered the sixth day. Investors will closely monitor Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments to gauge how he plans to combat the risk of rising prices, which remains a dominant concern for the central bank. The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged at its meeting, scheduled later in the day. Ahead of the monetary policy decision, money market moves show traders are pricing in about 46 basis points of rate cuts by the end of 2025, with a 55%...
Stocks in the US seesawed on Wednesday as investors reacted to the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged and Fed Chair Powell's cautious tone amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The S&P 500 finished slightly lower, the Dow lost 44 points while, the Nasdaq added 0.1%. Powell emphasized the Fed's wait-and-see stance, citing uncertainty around the inflationary effects of President Trump's tariffs and the risk of stagflation, as officials projected two rate cuts in 2025 but downgraded growth forecasts and raised inflation expectations. Markets were...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% to around 38,600, while the broader Topix index shed 0.6% to 2,791 on Thursday, ending a three-day winning streak as investors locked in profits and weighed global uncertainties. Overnight, the U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady, with policymakers taking a cautious stance amid concerns about the inflationary impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Geopolitical tensions are also adding to the pressure, as the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict raises concerns about expanding U.S. involvement in the Middle East. At home, investors are turning their...