MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.5 per cent in early trading, poised for a 5.6 per cent gain this month that would be the best in a year
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan firmed 0.4 per cent, to be up almost 4 per cent for the month
Shares of pharmaceutical companies across Asia tumbled in the aftermath, with Japan's Topix pharmaceutical index last down 1.2 per cent, while Hong Kong-listed innovative drug index fell 2 per cent
Oil prices slipped, after surging over 2 per cent overnight to seven-week peaks as a surprise drop in US crude inventories added to supply worries
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Stocks began the day on the back foot on Wednesday in Asia after declines on Wall Street overnight following comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that gave little indication about the future path of interest rates. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slid 0.2% in early trade, after U.S. stocks ended the previous session lower. The S&P 500 was down 0.6%, marking its biggest one-day loss in three weeks.
The rush into tech has been a boon for chip sectors in many Asian markets, with South Korean stocks up 0.2 per cent, having surged almost 9 per cent this month
US stock futures eased in early trading with the S&P futures down 0.1 per cent
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.3 per cent on Friday but is still set for a weekly rise of 0.5 per cent, hovering not far from its four-year tops
Asian shares, led by tech stocks, were mostly higher Thursday after Wall Street indexes churned between gains and losses but ultimately remained near their record levels following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut its main interest rate. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.3 per cent to 45,365.98, with tech-related stocks including Disco, Tokyo Electron and SoftBank among the gainers. The Bank of Japan started its two-day policy meeting, with rates expected to be left unchanged. South Korea's Kospi added nearly 1.3 per cent to 3,455.98, with chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics among advancers. The Chinese markets were mixed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.2 per cent to 26,856.02, while the Shanghai Composite index added nearly 0.5 per cent to 3,893.95 on optimism over trade negotiations with the US and a potential TikTok agreement. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.5 per cent to 8,778.60 with data released Thursday showing the jobless rate was unchanged at 4.2 per cent in ...
Expectations of imminent Fed rate cuts have kept the market mood buoyant over the past few sessions and sent stocks scaling new highs
Asian shares were mostly higher Monday, after Wall Street finished the previous week near their record levels. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4 per cent to 26,505.18. The Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2 per cent to 3,878.57. Worries are simmering about China's economy, as analysts say the data for August aren't strong enough to reflect ongoing dynamic growth, especially given the damage from US President Donald Trump's tariff policies. China's retail sales rose 3.4 per cent, and factory output was up 5.2 per cent. The underlying flow is shifting. For years, Beijing leaned on exports as the carry trade that kept growth rolling even as property cracked. But with Trump's tariffs slicing through supply chains, that leg of the trade is gone, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.3 per cent to 8,836.50, while South Korea's Kospi gained 0.4 per cent to 3,409.94. Stock trading was closed Monday for a national holiday in Japan. Wall ...
Indexes in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all scaled record peaks, urged on by extravagant expectations for AI-related earnings growth
Gold caught its breath after Tuesday's record high, while the dollar ticked higher, with two crucial days of US inflation figures
Asian shares mostly rose Tuesday as hopes grew, also on Wall Street, that US data reports set for release later in the week would lead the Federal Reserve tocut interest rates at its next meeting. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up nearly 0.3% in morning trading to 43,763.96. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.5% to 8,806.60. South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.6% to 3,238.07. Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 1.2% to 25,949.48, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% to 3,831.45. Asian markets opened Tuesday with momentum, riding Wall Street's conviction that Fed cuts are no longer a question of if but how many. Nearly three reductions are now being priced before year-end. That expectation is washing through global markets like a spring tide, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 added 0.2% and finished just below its record set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 114 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed ...
The US dollar eased slightly, giving up small gains from Thursday, when it was buoyed by soft labour market figures
Shares in Asia mostly traded higher Thursday after a rally of technology stocks steadied Wall Street and a slide in the dollar made Asian assets more attractive. US futures were mixed while oil prices were lower. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.2 per cent to 42,437.37 while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.6 per cent to 8,791.50. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.2 per cent to 3,192.22. Taiwan climbed 0.7 per cent while India's BSE Sensex added 0.6 per cent. The Chinese markets bucked the trend, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index down 1.1 per cent to 25,006.22. The Shanghai Composite index fell nearly 2 per cent to 3,738.32 on fears regulators will intervene amid excessive stock gains and liquidity. On Wednesday, Wall Street steadied after Alphabet and other technology stocks rallied. It also got some relief from easing pressure from the bond market, where the latest discouraging report on the US job market bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates soon to support .
Asian shares declined Wednesday, echoing a fall on Wall Street, as political uncertainty took centrestage in Japan, making for cautious trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 0.2 per cent in morning trading to 42,222.36. The fate of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been uncertain for weeks, with calls growing both for him to resign and to remain, after a recent election defeat and the rise of fringe parties have shaken public faith in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Confidence was rocked further by a recent comment from Ishiba's ally, Hiroshi Moriyama, who said he was stepping down as party secretary general. The political tremor is domestic, with Prime Minister Ishiba's key power broker signalling his resignation, shaking the foundations of the ruling party, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management. Australia's S&P/ASX200 slipped 1.1 per cent to 8,800.60. South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.3 per cent to 3,181.37. Hong
The dollar and bonds were little moved ahead of a busy week for data which includes surveys of manufacturing and services, and a range of labour numbers culminating in the August payrolls report
Markets in Asia latched on to the positive momentum on Friday as MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.4 per cent
US Treasury yield curve has been steepening since Trump ordered the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, an unprecedented move that could lead to a legal tussle