logo
Asian Stock Markets Update: Taiwan up 0.74%, Hang Seng down 1.18%, Shanghai down 0.13%, Nikkei down 0.08%

Asian Stock Markets Update: Taiwan up 0.74%, Hang Seng down 1.18%, Shanghai down 0.13%, Nikkei down 0.08%

Business Upturn7 hours ago
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on July 3, 2025, 08:47 IST
Asian markets traded mixed in early hours on Thursday, July 3, with cautious optimism seen in select indices. Investors continued to monitor U.S. economic signals and upcoming trade policy deadlines.
Early Gift Nifty indications suggested a flat to mildly positive start for the Indian market, with the index pointing about 29 points higher at 8:25 AM. This followed a slightly down finish in the previous session as investors weighed weak Chinese services data and U.S. policy signals.
Regionally, Shenzhen rose 0.36%, Kospi gained 0.82%, and Taiwan advanced 0.74%, reflecting modest gains. Meanwhile, Nikkei edged down 0.08%, Hang Seng slipped 1.18%, and Shanghai was down 0.13%, highlighting the uneven sentiment.
Markets are bracing for the crucial U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls data due later today, which could influence Federal Reserve policy expectations. The July 9 deadline for potential U.S. tariffs also looms over global trade outlook.
After Wednesday's muted session, Indian equities are expected to open cautiously optimistic today, tracking global cues and corporate updates like Nykaa's share sale and solid Q1 earnings projections.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US stock futures steady as investors await payrolls data
US stock futures steady as investors await payrolls data

Yahoo

time3 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

US stock futures steady as investors await payrolls data

(Reuters) -U.S. stock index futures held steady on Thursday as investors awaited the monthly jobs report for insights on the health of the labor market and the Federal Reserve's plans for monetary easing. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs after Wednesday's choppy session, boosted by gains in technology stocks and a trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam that eased concerns about prolonged trade tensions. The blue-chip Dow closed 1.3% below all-time highs touched in December. All eyes are on the nonfarm payrolls report for June, which is scheduled to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET (1230 GMT) - a day ahead of schedule because the U.S. markets are closed on July 4 for Independence Day. Trading volumes are expected to be light, with markets closing early, at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday. The data is expected to show the U.S. labor market slowed further in June, with the unemployment rate expected to have edged up to more than a three-and-a-half-year high of 4.3%, as economic uncertainty stemming from the Trump administration's policies curbed hiring. "Chair (Jerome) Powell, leading the camp for the Fed to keep rates on hold, argues that sticky inflation and a solid labor market mean that the policy rate should be kept mildly restrictive," ING analysts said in a note. "Clearly, any downside surprise in the jobs report would weaken his (Powell's) position and allow the market to push on with pricing a rate cut at the July meeting." Traders are attaching a 25% chance of the U.S. Federal Reserve cutting rates at the July meeting, according to CME Group's Fedwatch tool, up from about 20% a week ago. U.S. stocks dipped briefly on Wednesday after data showed private payrolls fell in June for the first time in more than two years. Other economic data on Thursday includes weekly jobless claims and the S&P Global and ISM services sector activity readings for June. Meanwhile, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives advanced President Donald Trump's massive tax-cut and spending bill toward a final yes-or-no vote, appearing to overcome internal party divisions over its cost. The legislation is expected to add $3.4 trillion to the nation's $36.2 trillion in debt over the next decade, according to nonpartisan analysts. By 5:49 a.m. ET (0949 GMT), S&P 500 e-minis were up 4 points, or 0.06%, Nasdaq 100 e-minis climbed 24.25 points, or 0.11%, and Dow e-minis added 30 points, or 0.07%. Shares of chip design software firms Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems climbed 6.7% and 5.9%, respectively, in premarket trading after the U.S. lifted export restrictions on chip design software to China, signaling a thaw in trade tensions between the world's top two economies. Tripadvisor climbed 4.9% after the Wall Street Journal reported activist investor Starboard Value had built a more than 9% stake in the online travel firm. Datadog jumped 10.2% after the cloud security firm was set to replace Juniper Networks on the S&P 500.

AEB cuts Russia car sales forecast, hopes for recovery with state support
AEB cuts Russia car sales forecast, hopes for recovery with state support

Yahoo

time5 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

AEB cuts Russia car sales forecast, hopes for recovery with state support

(Reuters) -Industry group AEB on Thursday said it had lowered its forecast for Russia's 2025 car sales, but said the market was showing early signs of stabilising and that more government support and lower interest rates could support a recovery. Russia's car market collapsed in 2022 as Western carmakers such as Renault and Volkswagen exited the market following the start of Moscow's full-scale war in Ukraine, paving the way for Chinese carmakers to seize more than half the market in the ensuing recovery. The Association of European Businesses (AEB) said it sees Russian car sales falling by 24% compared to 2024 to 1.25 million units. In January, the lobby group had forecasted a 15% drop to 1.4 million units. "Looking ahead, we can expect a market recovery - provided there is government support," the AEB said, mentioning demand support programmes, which provide government money by purchasing some kinds of cars. "We also expect the first modest cut in the key interest rate to contribute to market stabilisation, with further downward adjustments likely to bolster positive momentum," the lobby group said. The Russian central bank cut its key interest rate by one percentage point to 20% in June and may consider a more significant cut at its next rate-setting meeting on July 25. Sign in to access your portfolio

Mortgage Rates Today: July 3, 2025
Mortgage Rates Today: July 3, 2025

Forbes

time12 minutes ago

  • Forbes

Mortgage Rates Today: July 3, 2025

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. The current mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell by 0.65% in the last week to 6.61%, according to the Mortgage Research Center. Meanwhile, the APR on a 15-year fixed mortgage dropped 0.08 percentage point during the same period to 5.57%. For existing homeowners, compare your current mortgage rates with today's refinance rates . Borrowers paid an average rate of 6.61% on a 30-year mortgage. This was down from the previous week's rate of 6.65%. Currently, the average APR on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.64%. This is lower than last week when the APR was 6.68%. The APR contains both mortgage interest and the lender fees to help give a more complete picture of loan costs. To get an idea of how much you'll pay: a $100,000 mortgage with a 30-year fixed-rate loan at the current average interest rate of 6.61% will cost you about $639 including principal and interest (taxes and fees not included) each month, the Forbes Advisor mortgage calculator shows. That's around $130,845 in total interest over the life of the loan. Today's 15-year mortgage (fixed-rate) is 5.57%, down 1.40% from the previous week. The same time last week, the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage was at 5.65%. The APR on a 15-year fixed is 5.62%. It was 5.7% a week earlier. A 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage with today's interest rate of 5.57% will cost $821 per month in principal and interest on a $100,000 mortgage (not including taxes and insurance). In this scenario, borrowers would pay approximately $48,224 in total interest. The average interest rate on the 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage (mortgages above 2025's conforming loan limit of $806,500 in most areas) dropped to 6.94%. Last week, the average rate was 6.95%. Borrowers with a 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage with today's interest rate of 6.94% will pay $661 per month in principal and interest per $100,000. That means you'd pay approximately $138,518 in total interest over the life of the loan. Mortgage rates initially trended downward post-spring 2024. However, they surged again in October 2024—despite cuts by the Federal Reserve to the federal funds rate (its benchmark interest rate) in September, November and December 2024. Rates began to drop again in mid-January 2025, but experts don't forecast them falling by a significant amount in the near future. Mortgage rates are influenced by various economic factors, making it difficult to predict when they will drop . Mortgage rates follow U.S. Treasury bond yields. When bond yields decrease, mortgage rates generally follow suit. The Federal Reserve's decisions and global events also play a key role in shaping mortgage rates. If inflation rises or the economy slows, the Fed may lower its federal funds rate. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fed reduced rates, which drove interest rates to record lows. A significant drop in mortgage rates seems unlikely in the near future. However, they may decline if inflation eases or the economy weakens. To get an estimate of your mortgage costs, using a mortgage calculator can help. Simply input the following information: Home price Down payment amount Interest rate Loan term Taxes, insurance and any HOA fees Multiple factors affect the interest rate for a mortgage, including the economy's overall health, benchmark interest rates and borrower-specific factors. The Federal Reserve's rate decisions and inflation can influence rates to move higher or lower. Although the Fed raising rates doesn't directly cause mortgage rates to rise, an increase to its benchmark interest rate makes it more expensive for banks to lend money to consumers. Conversely, rates tend to decrease during periods of rate cuts and cooling inflation. Home buyers can make several moves to improve their finances and qualify for competitive rates. One is having a good or excellent credit score, which ranges from 670 to 850. Another is maintaining a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio below 43%, which implies less risk of being unable to afford the monthly mortgage payment. Further, making a minimum 20% down payment can help you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) on conventional home loans. If you can afford the larger monthly payment, 15-year home loans have lower rates than a 30-year term. As you compare lenders, consider getting rate quotes for several loan programs. In addition to comparing rates and fees, these programs can have flexible down payment and credit requirements that make qualifying easier. Conventional mortgages are likely to offer competitive rates when you have a credit score between 670 and 850, although it's possible to qualify with a minimum score of 620. This home loan type also doesn't require annual fees when you have at least 20% equity and waive PMI. Several government-backed programs are better when you want to make little or no down payment: FHA loans. Borrowers with a credit score above 580 only need to put 3.5% down and applicants with credit scores ranging from 500 to 579 are only required to make a 10% down payment with FHA loans. Borrowers with a credit score above 580 only need to put 3.5% down and applicants with credit scores ranging from 500 to 579 are only required to make a 10% down payment with VA loans. Servicemembers, veterans and qualifying spouses don't need to make a down payment when the sales price is less than the home's appraisal value. VA loan credit requirements vary by lender. Servicemembers, veterans and qualifying spouses don't need to make a down payment when the sales price is less than the home's appraisal value. credit requirements vary by lender. USDA loans. Applicants in eligible rural areas can buy or build a home with no money down using a USDA loan . Moderate-income borrowers can qualify for a 30-year fixed-rate term through the Guaranteed Loan Program. Further, buyers with a very low or low income can receive a 33-year term and payment assistance is available through the agency's Direct Loans program. Credit requirements differ by lender. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Comparing lenders and loan programs is an excellent start. Borrowers should also strive for a good or excellent credit score between 670 and 850 and a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less. Further, making a minimum down payment of 20% on conventional mortgages can help you automatically waive private mortgage insurance premiums, which increases your borrowing costs. Buying discount points or lender credits can also reduce your interest rate. Lenders adjust mortgage rates daily based on economic conditions, inflation, bond market movements and Federal Reserve actions. If you're shopping around for a mortgage, remember that you might be able to lock in a rate for 30 up to 120 days, depending on the lender. Note that some lenders charge a fee to lock your rate while others offer the service for free. A mortgage interest rate reflects what a lender is charging you on top of your loan amount in return for allowing you to borrow money. Annual percentage rate (APR) , on the other hand, is a calculation that includes both a loan's interest rate and finance charges, expressed as an annual cost over the life of the loan. In other words, it's the total cost of credit. APR accounts for interest, fees and time. Since APRs include both the interest rate and certain fees associated with a home loan, the APR can help you understand the total cost of a mortgage if you keep it for the entire term. The APR will usually be higher than the interest rate, but there are exceptions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store