Asian Shares Mostly Higher Before Year Ends

RTTNews | hace 935
Asian Shares Mostly Higher Before Year Ends

(RTTNews) - Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher on Friday, even as overall gains remained capped outside Hong Kong amid worries that a new COVID variant could emerge in China as the virus spreads widely and rapidly.

U.S. health officials and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called on China to share more information on the spread of COVID in the country, saying the lack of transparency could delay the identification of new COVID variants that pose a threat to public health.

Gold edged higher as the latest U.S. labor market data led to some dollar weakness and Treasury yields backing off.

Oil edged up slightly after a three-day run of declines as more countries announce restrictions on Chinese travelers.

China's Shanghai Composite index was up 0.6 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 1.2 percent in early trade.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global body remains concerned over the evolving situation in China due to the unavailability of an apt amount of information from the country about the outbreak.

Japan's Nikkei index was up 0.2 percent after closing off a three-month low the previous day. The yen rose against the dollar as initial optimism over China's reopening fizzled.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose half a percent while New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX-50 index was down 0.6 percent. Seoul's stock markets remain closed for New Year's holiday.

U.S. stocks rallied overnight as investors sought to snap up bargains in the tech sector, looking past worries that new variants could emerge from China's continuing COVID outbreak.

Investors also digested data showing that jobless claims rose slightly in the week ended December 24 but held near historic lows.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index surged 2.6 percent, the S&P 500 climbed 1.8 percent and the Dow added 1.1 percent.

European stocks reversed course to end higher on Thursday, tracking the broad-based rally on Wall Street on the penultimate trading day of the year.

The pan European STOXX 600 rose 0.7 percent. The German DAX gained 1.1 percent, France's CAC 40 index advanced 1 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 edged up 0.2 percent.

read more
Bay Street Likely To Open On Weak Note

Bay Street Likely To Open On Weak Note

Canadian shares are likely to open lower on Tuesday, tracking weak European markets amid growing uncertainty over U.S. - EU trade talks. Weak crude oil and bullion prices may hurt as well. The economic calendar is blank and there are no big earnings news as well. The mood in the market is likely to remain cautious.
RTTNews | hace 1h 32min
GM Q2 Results Down, Yet Beat Market; Backs FY25 View; Shares Hit

GM Q2 Results Down, Yet Beat Market; Backs FY25 View; Shares Hit

Automajor General Motors Co. on Tuesday maintained its fiscal 2025 earnings outlook, after reporting weak profit and revenues in its second quarter. However, adjusted earnings and top line beat market estimates. In the pre-market activity on the NYSE, General Motors shares were losing around 3.7 percent.
RTTNews | hace 2h 55min
FTSE Flat At Noon; Compass Group, Centrica Post Strong Gains

FTSE Flat At Noon; Compass Group, Centrica Post Strong Gains

U.K. stocks are turning in a mixed performance in cautious trade on Tuesday with investors reacting to some earnings updates, and assessing the possible move of the U.S. and the European Union in the event of the ongoing trade negotiations failing to result in any meaningful solution to the tariff issues.
RTTNews | hace 2h 55min
UK Budget Deficit Exceeds Estimate In June

UK Budget Deficit Exceeds Estimate In June

The UK budget deficit widened more than estimated in June on higher debt servicing costs, which has added pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to raise taxes at the autumn budget. Public sector net borrowing rose by GBP 6.6 billion from the previous year to GBP 20.7 billion in June, the Office for National Statistics reported Tuesday.
RTTNews | hace 3h 2min
CAC Moderately Lower As Investors Await Progress In Trade Talks

CAC Moderately Lower As Investors Await Progress In Trade Talks

French stocks are notably lower on Tuesday amid rising uncertainty over U.S.-EU trade talks ahead of the August 1 deadline. The mood is very cautious with investors awaiting a slew of earnings updates from big name French companies.
RTTNews | hace 3h 15min
DAX Down Nearly 1%; Sartorius Plunges 9%

DAX Down Nearly 1%; Sartorius Plunges 9%

German stocks are down in negative territory on Tuesday, weighed down by some weak earnings updates and uncertainty about tariffs. The European Union is reportedly preparing to respond with a suite of retaliatory measures under its Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 30% tariff on EU goods from 1 August.
RTTNews | hace 3h 30min
Antipodean Currencies As European Shares Decline On Trade Deal Anxiety

Antipodean Currencies As European Shares Decline On Trade Deal Anxiety

The antipodean currencies such as the Australia and New Zealand dollars weakened against their major currencies in the European session on Tuesday, as European shares traded lower, with disappointing earnings and trade anxiety keeping investors on edge.
RTTNews | hace 4h 30min