International stock markets updates: Q2 to Q3 2023

Most markets crawled higher Wednesday on speculation that China will unveil measures to support its struggling economy, while investors held out hope the Federal Reserve will skip an interest rate hike this month.

Reports that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China provided optimism for a thawing of relations between the superpowers, but with a lacklustre Wall Street performance and few catalysts to drive business, regional traders moved cautiously.

Meanwhile, a World Bank warning on the global economic outlook gave some food for thought as it lowered its growth expectations for next year.

Traders are keeping tabs on China, with reports saying authorities have asked the country's biggest banks to lower their deposit rates in a bid to boost the economy as it struggles to recover from years of zero-Covid lockdowns. — AFP

Hong Kong stocks soar Friday on growing optimism the Federal Reserve will not hike interest rates at its next meeting this month, while traders also welcome the passage of a bill to avert a US default.

The Hang Seng Index surged 4.02%, or 733.03 points, to 18,949.94.

The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.79%, or 25.43 points, to 3,230.07, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange jumped 1.16%, or 23.39 points, to 2,035.62. — AFP

Tokyo shares close higher on Friday, extending Wall Street rallies on hopes that the Federal Reserve could slow rate hikes, with investors also eyeing US jobs data.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 1.21%, or 376.21 points, to end at 31,524.22, while the broader Topix index climbed 1.55%, or 33.41 points, to 2,182.70. — AFP

Hong Kong stocks rise more than 3% Friday morning, driven by a rally in tech firms on hopes the Federal Reserve will decide against hiking interest rates this month.

The Hang Seng Index surged 3.14%, or 571.11 points, to 18,788.02.

The gains follow a lengthy period of losses in the city fuelled by concerns about China's stuttering economic recovery. — AFP

Tokyo stocks open higher Friday, extending US rallies on hopes that the Federal Reserve could pause its rate hikes, while traders eye progress on a deal to avert a US default.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.35%, or 109.00 points, at 31,257.01 in early trade, while the broader Topix index added 0.42%, or 9.01 points, to 2,158.30. — AFP

Tokyo shares rise Thursday as investors cheer the US House approval of a bill to raise the debt ceiling, while keeping their eye on the Federal Reserve's future moves.

The benchmark Nikkei index climbed 0.84%, or 260.13 points, to 31,148.01, while the broader Topix index rose 0.88%, or 18.66 points, to 2,149.29.

Trading opened on a solid footing thanks to expectations of healthy investments as a new month begins. — AFP

Hong Kong shares open with big losses Wednesday morning on worries hardline US lawmakers could torpedo a bipartisan deal aimed at lifting the debt ceiling to avoid a calamitous default.

The Hang Seng Index shed 0.97%, or 180.78 points, to 18,415.00.

The Shanghai Composite Index gave up 0.30%, or 9.56 points, to 3,214.66, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange lost 0.16%, or 3.18 points, to 2,008.81. — AFP

Tokyo markets drift lower Tuesday on profit-taking after blue-chip shares ended on a three-decade high the previous day, with Wall Street closed for a holiday.

The benchmark Nikkei index slipped 0.34%, or 107.11 points, to 31,126.43 in morning trade, while the broader Topix index fell 0.66%, or 14.18 points, to 2,146.47.

Investors locked in profits after the Nikkei scored its highest finish in 33 years, while global markets hailed a broad deal between US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy over raising the debt ceiling.

Analysts say foreign market players have been a major driver of recent gains in Tokyo and they are now taking a break with the US market closed on Monday for Memorial Day. — AFP

Asian markets rose Monday on news that President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached a deal to lift the US debt ceiling and avoid a calamitous default.

After weeks of wrangling, the two announced that an agreement had finally been reached and urged lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to vote for it before the government runs out of cash on June 5.

However, there is some nervousness on trading floors as the bill contains plenty of elements that are likely to anger Democrats and Republicans alike.

For now, dealers are upbeat as the breakthrough lifts the threat of a debt default by the United States that economists warn could hammer the global economy and cause market turmoil. — AFP

Tokyo stocks open higher Friday, helped by a surge in US tech shares and a cheap yen against the dollar.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.29%, or 89.98 points, at 30,891.11 in early trade, while the broader Topix index added 0.22%, or 4.72 points, to 2,150.87.

"Japanese shares are seen starting with gains thanks to a cheaper yen against the dollar in addition to a jump in the Nasdaq," Monex senior market analyst Toshiyuki Kanayama says in a note. — AFP

Hong Kong stocks end sharply lower Thursday as US lawmakers struggle to hammer out a deal to avert a painful US debt default and Fitch warns it could downgrade the country's credit rating over the issue.

The Hang Seng Index tumbled 1.93%, or 369.01 points, to 18,746.92.

The Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.11%, or 3.49 points, to 3,201.26, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange retreated 0.17%, or 3.35 points, to 2,006.13. — AFP

Tokyo stocks drift lower at the open Thursday, with investors alarmed by the lack of progress on US debt ceiling negotiations despite a looming deadline.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.10%, or 31.03 points, to 30,651.65 in early trade, while the broader Topix index lost 0.45%, or 9.77 points, to 2,142.63.

The dollar stood at 139.29 yen, against 139.43 yen in New York on Wednesday. — AFP 

Stock markets track losses in Wall Street on Wednesday as investors grow increasingly concerned about stalled US debt ceiling talks aimed at averting a painful default.

The optimism that flowed through trading floors at the start of the week has given way to trepidation, with several Republicans questioning an early June deadline, and some even saying the country is nowhere near running out of cash anyway.

All eyes are now on Washington, where President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have had a number of meetings to find a path to lifting the borrowing limit from the current $31.8 trillion. — AFP

Hong Kong shares suffer fresh losses at Wednesday's open following a drop on Wall Street fuelled by concerns about an impasse in talks to raise the US debt ceiling and avoid a default.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.78%, or 151.86 points, to 19,279.39.

The Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.26%, or 8.53 points, to 3,237.70, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange eased 0.32%, or 6.39 points, to 2,012.33. — AFP

Hong Kong shares open on the front foot Tuesday, building on a positive start to the week as optimism grows that US lawmakers will hammer out a deal to lift the country's borrowing limit and avert a default.

The Hang Seng Index added 0.18%, or 35.29 points, to 19,713.46.

The Shanghai Composite Index eased 0.05%, or 1.68 points, to 3,294.79, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange was marginally lower, inching down 0.61 points to 2,038.35. — AFP

Hong Kong stocks finished sharply higher Monday on hopes for US debt talks and a possible thaw in China-US relations.

The Hang Seng Index jumped 1.17 percent, or 227.60 points, to 19,678.17.

The Shanghai Composite Index added 0.39 percent, or 12.93 points, to 3,296.47, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange also gained 0.39 percent, or 7.86 points, to 2,038.96. — AFP

Hong Kong shares rally at the open of trade Thursday morning, tracking a surge on Wall Street fuelled by optimism US lawmakers will soon hammer out a debt ceiling deal to avert a default.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.73%, or 142.16 points, to 19,702.73.

The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.13%, or 4.18 points, to 3,288.41, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange added 0.08%, or 1.59 points, to 2,027.54. — AFP

The haven dollar climbs and global stock markets waver Wednesday as investors fret over the slow progress of talks seeking to raise the US debt ceiling.

All eyes remain on Washington, where lawmakers remain deadlocked in negotiations to lift the country's borrowing limit to pay its debts and avert a market-rattling default.

The euro slid to $1.0821, the lowest level since early April, in a broad dollar rally as the greenback benefitted from its status as a safe bet in times of economic turmoil. — AFP

Hong Kong stocks close with a steep loss Wednesday as investors keep a nervous watch on US talks to avert a debt default, with lawmakers making slow progress.

The Hang Seng Index fell 2.09%, or 417.68 points, to 19,560.57.

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.21%, or 6.76 points, to 3,284.23, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange added 0.33%, or 6.57 points, to 2,025.95. — AFP

Hong Kong stocks open higher Tuesday, extending the previous day's rally thanks to a surge in Chinese tech firms.

The Hang Seng Index added 1.06%, or 212.15 points, to 20,183.28.

The Shanghai Composite Index was flat, inching down 0.58 points to 3,310.16, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange was also barely moved, edging up 0.19 points to 2,033.99. — AFP

Tokyo shares open higher Tuesday on growing hopes that Washington would avert a default, which helped push Wall Street shares higher.

The Nikkei index rose 0.77%, or 229.28 points, to 29,855.62 in early trade, while the broader Topix index added 0.46%, or 9.77 points, to 2,124.62. — AFP

Asian and European markets mostly rose Monday as investors kept an eye on the talks to raise the US debt limit to avert a "catastrophic" default.

There has been some progress on reaching a deal but Democrats and Republicans remain at loggerheads, though President Joe Biden said he was confident the debt ceiling will be raised.

Republicans are demanding budget cuts in exchange for lifting the limit, while the White House has insisted for months that the nation's credit should not be up for negotiation.

There is a general view among traders that the two sides will hammer out a deal, though some observers warn that the mere threat of a default was weighing on market sentiment. — AFP

Stock markets are mixed as traders weigh a range of issues, including US debt-ceiling hopes, expected central bank calculations and more signs of a slowing economy.

Investors hoping the US Federal Reserve will finally take a breather from its long-running campaign of interest rate hikes have been left feeling a little more confident this week after data showed US inflation on both a consumer and wholesale level continued to ease in April.

Their hopes were given a further boost on Thursday by news that jobless claims last week hit their highest since October 2021, suggesting the labor market was showing some slack. — AFP

Asian markets fluctuate Friday as traders weigh a range of issues including US debt ceiling hopes, high-level talks between Washington and Beijing, banking sector uncertainty and more signs of a slowing economy.

Investors hoping the Federal Reserve will finally take a breather from its long-running campaign of interest rate hikes have been left feeling a little more confident this week after data showed inflation on both a consumer and wholesale level continued to ease in April.

Their hopes were given a further boost Thursday by news that jobless claims last week hit their highest since October 2021, suggesting the labor market was showing some slack. — AFP 

Updates on stock markets around the world for the second quarter until third quarter of 2013.

The chart of Germany's share index DAX is displayed at the stock exchange in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on March 20, 2023. European stock markets have fallen significantly on May 2, as interest rate decisions from the U.S. and European central banks are expected, and fears of a global recession weighs heavily on the oil sector. AFP/Daniel Roland