Latest news with #StandardandPoor
Canada Standard
13 hours ago
- Business
- Canada Standard
U.S. stocks surge despite Trump rift with Canada
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell on Friday announcing he had terminated trade talks with Canada. Such is the strength of the U.S. stock market though, that after an early dip, buyers again took the upper hand, sending the Standard and Poor's 500 to a new record. "We have just been informed that Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with, including the fact that they have charged our Farmers as much as 400% Tariffs, for years, on Dairy Products, has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country," the U.S. president posted on his own social media platform Truth Social on Friday. "They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us, also. Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately." "We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period," Mr Trump said. Despite the ruckus with Canada, there were some stand-outs on Friday. Nvidia rose for the fifth day in a row, taking it to a record high. The stock after hitting a one-year low in April, has since surged 66 percent and is now capitalized at $3.85 trillion, ahead of Apple and Microsoft. The stock rose $2.66 or 1.72 percent on Friday, to close at $157.75, its highest closing level ever. Wall Street Extends Gains The Standard and Poor's 500 (^GSPC) rose 32.08 points (up 0.52 percent) to close at 6,173.10 , marking another record high, as investors remained optimistic about corporate earnings and economic growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) outperformed with a strong gain of 432.43 points (up 1.00 percent) , finishing at 43,819.27 —its best close since early June. Tech stocks also advanced, with the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) climbing 105.54 points (up 0.52 percent) to 20,273.46 , supported by gains in semiconductor and AI-related shares. Market Outlook Analysts attributed Wall Street's strength to renewed confidence in the Federal Reserve's potential rate cuts later this year, while weaker oil prices and the breakdown in trade talks pressured Canadian equities. Trading volumes were robust, with the S&P 500 seeing 4.147 billion shares exchanged. Dollar Strengthens Against Yen and Canadian Dollar Friday's foreign exchange session saw the U.S. dollar (USD) gaining against some major currencies while weakening against others, as traders assessed economic data and central bank outlooks. The EUR/USD pair on Friday edged up slightly to 1.1704 , rising 0.04 percent as the euro held steady amid mixed European economic signals. Meanwhile, the USD/JPY climbed 0.25 percent to 144.71 , as the yen remained under pressure amid expectations of continued loose monetary policy from the Bank of Japan. The USD/CAD saw a notable jump Friday, gaining 0.54 percent to 1.3712 , as the United States terminated trade talks with Canada. Pound and Aussie Dollar Decline Against Greenback The GBP/USD fell 0.16 percent to 1.3703 , as the British pound softened following cautious remarks from Bank of England policymakers. The AUD/USD dropped 0.37 percent to 0.6520 , reflecting broader risk-off sentiment in commodity-linked currencies. The NZD/USD dipped slightly by 0.05 percent to 0.6049 , while the USD/CHF saw a marginal decline of 0.01 percent to 0.7995 , as the Swiss franc held firm amid global market uncertainty. Market Outlook Traders are now looking ahead to next week's key economic data, including inflation figures and central bank speeches, which could influence currency movements. The dollar's mixed performance suggests markets remain cautious. Global markets wrap up Friday, European and UK bourses finish with solid gains Friday's trading session saw a mixed performance across global indices. Overall, European markets outperformed, while Asian indices showed a split between gains and losses as investors weighed economic data and central bank policies. Canada's TSX Drops After Rift with U.S. re-emerges The S&P/TSX Composite (^GSPTSE) declined 59.63 points (down 0.22 percent) to 26,692.32 , weighed down by losses in energy and materials sectors as news of the ending of trade tades with the United States broke. UK and European Indices Rally The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) in London closed at 8,798.91 , rising 63.31 points (up 0.72 percent) . In Germany' the DAX (^GDAXI) surged 383.92 points (up 1.62 percent) to 24,033.22 , while France's CAC 40 (^FCHI) climbed 134.24 points (up 1.78 percent) to 7,691.55 . The broader EURO STOXX 50 (^STOXX50E) also advanced Friday, gaining 81.61 points (up 1.56 percent) to 5,325.64 . Belgium's BEL 20 (^BFX) added 38.13 points (up 0.85 percent) to 4,509.03 , and the Euronext 100 (^N100) rose 19.45 points (up 1.25 percent) to 1,575.55 . Split Results in Asia and Pacific In Asia on Friday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng (^HSI) dipped 41.25 points (down 0.17 percent) to 24,284.15 , while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO) fell 36.60 points (down 0.43 percent) to 8,514.20 . The Australian All Ordinaries (^AORD) slipped 30.00 points (down 0.34 percent) to 8,743.60 . However, India's S&P BSE SENSEX (^BSESN) gained 303.03 points (up 0.36 percent) on Friday to 84,058.90 , while in Indonesia, the IDX Composite (^JKSE) rose 65.26 points (up 0.96 percent) to 6,897.40 . Malaysia's KLSE (^KLSE) edged up 8.37 points (up 0.55 percent) to 1,528.16 , and New Zealand's NZX 50 (^NZ50) jumped 103.54 points (up 0.83 percent) to 12,583.59 . South Korea's KOSPI (^KS11) declined 23.62 points (down 0.77 percent) to 3,055.94 , while Taiwan's TWII (^TWII) added 87.74 points (up 0.39 percent) to 22,580.08 . Japan and China Show Divergence Japan's Nikkei 225 (^N225) continued its strong run on Friday, climbing 566.21 points (up 1.43 percent) to 40,150.79 , marking another milestone. However, China's Shanghai Composite ( fell 24.23 points (down 0.70 percent) to 3,424.23 . African equities slide South Africa's JSE Top 40 (^ dipped 26.92 points (down 0.50 percent) to 5,319.61 , while Singapore's STI (^STI) rose 27.74 points (up 0.70 percent) to 3,966.20 . Middle East Markets Closed Mideast markets were mostly closed on Friday and are set to re-open on Sunday. Related stories: Thursday 26 June 2025 | Nasdaq Composite surges 194 points, close to record high | Big News Network Wednesday 25 June 2025 | Tech stocks move higher Wednesday, broader markets falter | Big News Network Tuesday 24 June 2025 | Dow Jones jumps 507 points as Mideast truce takes hold | Big News Network Monday 23 June 2025 | Wall Street forges ahead despite despite weekend attacks on Iran | Big News Network
Canada News.Net
14 hours ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
U.S. stock markets jump despite Trump tussle with Canada
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell on Friday announcing he had terminated trade talks with Canada. Such is the strength of the U.S. stock market though, that after an early dip, buyers again took the upper hand, sending the Standard and Poor's 500 to a new record. "We have just been informed that Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with, including the fact that they have charged our Farmers as much as 400% Tariffs, for years, on Dairy Products, has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country," the U.S. president posted on his own social media platform Truth Social on Friday. "They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us, also. Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately." "We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period," Mr Trump said. Despite the ruckus with Canada, there were some stand-outs on Friday. Nvidia rose for the fifth day in a row, taking it to a record high. The stock after hitting a one-year low in April, has since surged 66 percent and is now capitalized at $3.85 trillion, ahead of Apple and Microsoft. The stock rose $2.66 or 1.72 percent on Friday, to close at $157.75, its highest closing level ever. Wall Street Extends Gains The Standard and Poor's 500 (^GSPC) rose 32.08 points (up 0.52 percent) to close at 6,173.10, marking another record high, as investors remained optimistic about corporate earnings and economic growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) outperformed with a strong gain of 432.43 points (up 1.00 percent), finishing at 43,819.27—its best close since early June. Tech stocks also advanced, with the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) climbing 105.54 points (up 0.52 percent) to 20,273.46, supported by gains in semiconductor and AI-related shares. Market Outlook Analysts attributed Wall Street's strength to renewed confidence in the Federal Reserve's potential rate cuts later this year, while weaker oil prices and the breakdown in trade talks pressured Canadian equities. Trading volumes were robust, with the S&P 500 seeing 4.147 billion shares exchanged. Friday's foreign exchange session saw theU.S. dollar (USD)gaining against some major currencies while weakening against others, as traders assessed economic data and central bank outlooks. The EUR/USD pair on Friday edged up slightly to 1.1704, rising 0.04 percent as the euro held steady amid mixed European economic signals. Meanwhile, the USD/JPY climbed 0.25 percent to 144.71, as the yen remained under pressure amid expectations of continued loose monetary policy from the Bank of Japan. The USD/CAD saw a notable jump Friday, gaining 0.54 percent to 1.3712, as the United States terminated trade talks with Canada. Pound and Aussie Dollar Decline Against Greenback The GBP/USD fell 0.16 percent to 1.3703, as the British pound softened following cautious remarks from Bank of England policymakers. The AUD/USD dropped 0.37 percent to 0.6520, reflecting broader risk-off sentiment in commodity-linked currencies. The NZD/USD dipped slightly by 0.05 percent to 0.6049, while the USD/CHF saw a marginal decline of 0.01 percent to 0.7995, as the Swiss franc held firm amid global market uncertainty. Market Outlook Traders are now looking ahead to next week's key economic data, including inflation figures and central bank speeches, which could influence currency movements. The dollar's mixed performance suggests markets remain cautious. Global markets wrap up Friday, European and UK bourses finish with solid gains Friday's trading session saw a mixed performance across global indices. Overall, European markets outperformed, while Asian indices showed a split between gains and losses as investors weighed economic data and central bank policies. The S&P/TSX Composite (^GSPTSE) declined 59.63 points (down 0.22 percent) to 26,692.32, weighed down by losses in energy and materials sectors as news of the ending of trade tades with the United States broke. UK and European Indices Rally The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) in London closed at 8,798.91, rising 63.31 points (up 0.72 percent). In Germany' theDAX (^GDAXI) surged 383.92 points (up 1.62 percent) to 24,033.22, while France's CAC 40 (^FCHI) climbed 134.24 points (up 1.78 percent) to 7,691.55. The broader EURO STOXX 50 (^STOXX50E) also advanced Friday, gaining 81.61 points (up 1.56 percent) to 5,325.64. Belgium's BEL 20 (^BFX) added 38.13 points (up 0.85 percent) to 4,509.03, and the Euronext 100 (^N100) rose 19.45 points (up 1.25 percent) to 1,575.55. Split Results in Asia and Pacific In Asia on Friday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng (^HSI) dipped 41.25 points (down 0.17 percent) to 24,284.15, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO) fell 36.60 points (down 0.43 percent) to 8,514.20. The Australian All Ordinaries (^AORD) slipped 30.00 points (down 0.34 percent) to 8,743.60. However, India's S&P BSE SENSEX (^BSESN) gained 303.03 points (up 0.36 percent) on Friday to 84,058.90, while in Indonesia, the IDX Composite (^JKSE) rose 65.26 points (up 0.96 percent) to 6,897.40. Malaysia's KLSE (^KLSE) edged up 8.37 points (up 0.55 percent) to 1,528.16, and New Zealand's NZX 50 (^NZ50) jumped 103.54 points (up 0.83 percent) to 12,583.59. South Korea's KOSPI (^KS11) declined 23.62 points (down 0.77 percent) to 3,055.94, while Taiwan's TWII (^TWII) added 87.74 points (up 0.39 percent) to 22,580.08. Japan and China Show Divergence Japan's Nikkei 225 (^N225) continued its strong run on Friday, climbing 566.21 points (up 1.43 percent) to 40,150.79, marking another milestone. However, China's Shanghai Composite ( fell 24.23 points (down 0.70 percent) to 3,424.23. African equities slide South Africa's JSE Top 40 (^ dipped 26.92 points (down 0.50 percent) to 5,319.61, while Singapore's STI (^STI) rose 27.74 points (up 0.70 percent) to 3,966.20. Middle East Markets Closed
Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
U.S. stocks steady after momentous start to week
NEW YORK, New York, - U.S. stocks were split, but little moved Wednesday after a positive start to the week heralded by a two-day rally. On Wednesday it was business as usual as buyers and sellers appeared equally matched on both sides of the ledger. "There is a battle in the markets between some of the secular tailwinds, which should positively impact asset prices long term (AI, robotics, crypto, and many other technological innovations), and the cyclical headwinds of possible policy missteps," Leah Bennett, chief investment strategist at Concurrent Asset Management told CNBC Wednesday. "The former seems to be winning today." The Nasdaq Composite extended gains while the Dow and S&P 500 dipped slightly. Key U.S. Indexes Show Divergence The Standard and Poor's 500 closed flat at 6,092.16 in thin trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 106.59 points, or 0.25 percent, to 42,982.43, weighed down by losses in industrial and financial stocks. In contrast, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.31 percent to 19,973.55, buoyed by strength in megacap tech names. Trading volumes, excpt for the S&P 500, were robust, with the Nasdaq seeing 7.21 billion shares exchanged. Market Drivers Analysts noted that investors remained cautious ahead of key economic data, including Friday's U.S. jobs report, while still digesting the latest corporate earnings. The Nasdaq's resilience suggested continued appetite for growth stocks despite lingering interest rate uncertainty. Global Forex Markets Continue to see Weakness in US. Dollar on Wednesday The foreign exchange market witnessed further declines in the U.S. dollar in major currency pairs during Wednesday's trading session, as investors assessed the latest geopolitical developments, economic data and central bank expectations. The EUR/USD pair rose to 1.1660, marking an increase of 0.45 percent, as the euro strengthened against the U.S. dollar amid shifting market sentiment. Meanwhile, the USD/JPY edged higher to 145.16, up 0.19 percent, as the yen remained under pressure against the greenback due to interest rate differentials. The USD/CAD saw minimal movement, inching up just 0.01 percent to 1.3724, reflecting steady demand for the US dollar against its Canadian counterpart. The GBP/USD climbed 0.41 percent to 1.3668, as the British pound continued to meet demand. The pound now stands at a more than 3-year high, having advanced nearly 9 percent this year.. The USD/CHF dipped 0.11 percent to 0.8042, signaling slight weakness in the U.S. dollar against the Swiss franc. The AUD/USD advanced 0.36 percent to 0.6512, supported by improved risk appetite, while the NZD/USD led gains with a 0.58 percent rise to 0.6039, as the New Zealand dollar outperformed. Global Markets Close Mixed on Wednesday; Asia Outperforms While Canada, UK, Europe Decline Global stock markets delivered a mixed performance in Wednesday's session, with Asian indices leading gains while UK and European benchmarks faced broad declines. North of the U.S. border, the S&P/TSX Composite dropped 0.57 percent to 26,566.32, marking one of the day's weaker performances among major global benchmarks. The decline came as energy and materials stocks lagged amid softer commodity prices. UK and European Markets End Lower European equities struggled as investors weighed economic concerns and corporate earnings. The UK's FTSE 100 fell 0.46 percent to 8,718.75, while Germany's DAX dropped 0.61 percent to 23,498.33. France's CAC 40 declined 0.76 percent to 7,558.16, and the EURO STOXX 50 slid 0.85 percent to 5,252.01. Belgium's BEL 20 mirrored the trend, shedding 0.76 percent to 4,457.12. Asian Markets Rally In contrast, Asian indices posted strong gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index surged 1.23 percent to 24,474.67, while Singapore's STI Index rose 0.56 percent to 3,925.98. India's S&P BSE SENSEX climbed 0.85 percent to 82,755.51, and Taiwan's TWSE Index jumped 1.09 percent to 22,430.61. Japan's Nikkei 225 edged up 0.39 percent to 38,942.07, and China's Shanghai Composite gained 1.04 percent to 3,455.97. South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.15 percent to 3,108.25, and Malaysia's KLSE gained 0.36 percent to 1,519.79. Mixed Moves in Pacific Regions Australia's S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.04 percent to 8,559.20, while the broader All Ordinaries added 0.06 percent to 8,779.90. New Zealand's NZX 50 dipped slightly by 0.05 percent to 12,460.96. Israel's TA-125 led gains, soaring 1.71 percent to 2,973.48, while Egypt's EGX 30 surged 1.24 percent to 33,002.80. South Africa's Top 40, however, bucked the trend, falling 0.80 percent to 5,306.17.
Canada News.Net
4 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Wall Street rallies for second day in row as Mideast tensions cool
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markest closed sharply higher on Tuesday as a truce entered into between Irsael and Iran after 12 days of hostilities appeared to be taking hold, after early fractures. The ceasefire was entered into following a shock intervention by the U.S. military on the weekend which largely destroyed the 3 key nuclear sites in Iran. "The key event for the market was how quick and limited the U.S. involvement was, as well as the 'weak' response from Iran which was essentially a choreographed fireworks display for domestic consumption," Jon Brager, portfolio manager at Palmer Square Capital Management told CNBC Tuesday. "So even if the ceasefire results in occasional flare ups, the market has decided this risk is now in the rearview mirror and the focus probably returns to tariffs and fiscal policy." The major U.S. indices in the aftermath of the peacemaking efforts, with all three major U.S. indices posting strong gains. U.S. Markets Lead Gains Standard and Poor's 500: Jumped 67.05 points (1.11 percent) to close at 6,092.22, lifted by strong performances across multiple sectors. Dow Jones Industrial Average: Soared 507.24 points (1.19 percent) to 43,089.02, marking its best day in weeks. NASDAQ Composite: Outperformed with a gain of 281.56 points (1.43 percent), closing at 19,912.53 as tech stocks led the charge. Global Forex Markets Show Mixed Movements on Tuesday The foreign exchange market saw the U.S. dollar retreat against many major currencies as hostilities in the Middle East subsided with a broad-based ceasefire agreement enacted between Israel and Iran. Key Currency Pairs EUR/USD (Euro/US Dollar): Rose to 1.1615, up 0.34 percent as the euro strengthened. USD/JPY (US Dollar/Japanese Yen): Fell to 144.73, down 0.95 percent amid a weaker dollar against the yen. USD/CAD (US Dollar/Canadian Dollar): Slipped slightly to 1.3728, declining 0.04 percent as the Canadian dollar held steady. GBP/USD (British Pound/US Dollar): Jumped to 1.3623, gaining 0.76 percent in a strong session for the pound. USD/CHF (US Dollar/Swiss Franc): Dropped to 0.8051, down 0.91 percent as the Swiss franc gained ground. AUD/USD (Australian Dollar/US Dollar): Climbed to 0.6499, rising 0.64 percent on improved risk sentiment. NZD/USD (New Zealand Dollar/US Dollar): Increased to 0.6014, up 0.69 percent alongside broader commodity currency strength. Market Analysis The U.S. dollar faced pressure against European and commodity-linked currencies, while the Japanese yen and Swiss franc also saw notable gains. The British pound was among the top performers, supported by positive economic data. Meanwhile, the Australian and New Zealand dollars benefited from improved market risk appetite. Global Markets Rally on Tuesday with Gains Across Major Indices as Mideast Tensions Fade Global stock markets saw a broad rally on Tuesday, with most major indices closing higher amid positive investor sentiment. following the ceasefire entered into by Israel and Iran following 12 days of hostilities which also brought in the United States military. Canada S&P/TSX Composite: Added 109.26 points (0.41 percent), settling at 26,718.62, supported by gains in energy and financial stocks. UK and Europe FTSE 100 (UK): Rose to 8,758.99, gaining 0.95 points (0.01 percent). DAX (Germany): Jumped 372.57 points (1.60 percent) to 23,641.58. CAC 40 (France): Climbed 78.42 points (1.04 percent) to 7,615.99. EURO STOXX 50: Advanced 75.17 points (1.44 percent) to 5,297.07. BEL 20 (Belgium): Added 49.44 points (1.11 percent) to 4,491.42. Asia and Pacific Hang Seng (Hong Kong): Surged 487.94 points (2.06 percent) to 24,177.07. Nikkei 225 (Japan): Gained 436.47 points (1.14 percent) to 38,790.56. S&P/ASX 200 (Australia): Increased 80.60 points (0.95 percent) to 8,555.50. All Ordinaries (Australia): Rose 86.80 points (1.00 percent) to 8,774.80. KOSPI (South Korea): Soared 89.17 points (2.96 percent) to 3,103.64. TWSE (Taiwan): Rallied 456.74 points (2.10 percent) to 22,188.76. SSE Composite (China): Added 38.98 points (1.15 percent) to 3,420.57. Middle East Other Key Markets S&P BSE SENSEX (India): Inched up 158.32 points (0.19 percent) to 82,055.11. IDX Composite (Indonesia): Gained 82.03 points (1.21 percent) to 6,869.17. EGX 30 (Egypt): Skyrocketed 1,179.80 points (3.76 percent) to 32,598.50. TA-125 (Israel): Increased 42.35 points (1.47 percent) to 2,923.36. Declining Indices Investors remain optimistic as global markets continue to show resilience, with strong performances in Europe and Asia leading the charge.
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Dow Jones jumps 375 points in positive start to week for Wall Street
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks made strong gains on Monday, brushing off concerns Donald Trump's surprise ambush of Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz on the weekend could lead to an all-out regional war in the Middle East. Investors and traders were comforted by the Iranian retaliation. Limited strikes on U.S. bases in Qatar and Iraq, caused no deaths or injuries and did little damage. Qatar announced it had successfully intercepted most of the limited barrage. The Standard and Poor's 500 (^GSPC) led the charge on Wall Street, rising 57.33 points or 0.96 percent to close at 6,025.17, marking its highest level in recent weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also saw strong gains, adding 374.96 points or 0.89 percent to finish at 42,581.78, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) advanced 183.56 points or 0.94 percent to 19,630.97. Trading volumes were robust, with the S&P 500 recording 3.167 billion shares traded, the Dow Jones seeing 486.542 million, and the NASDAQ logging 7.767 billion in volume. Dollar Shows Mixed Performance, Euro and Pound Gain Ground, Yen Weakens Monday's foreign exchange market saw the U.S. dollar trade unevenly against major currencies, with the euro and British pound posting notable gains while the Swiss franc edged up only slightly. Key Currency Movements The euro (EUR/USD) rose 0.44 percent to 1.1571, marking its strongest level in recent sessions. The British pound (GBP/USD) also climbed 0.56 percent to 1.3523, supported by improved risk sentiment in European markets. The U.S. dollar (USD/CHF) fell sharply against the Swiss franc, dropping 0.63 percent to 0.8120, as traders sought safe-haven assets amid Middle East tensions. Dollar Holds Steady Against Yen and Canadian Dollar The U.S. dollar (USD/JPY) inched up 0.08 percent to 146.18 against the Japanese yen,. Meanwhile, the greenback (USD/CAD) was nearly flat against the Canadian dollar, edging up just 0.01 percent to 1.3733 as oil price fluctuations kept the Canadian dollar in check. Commodity Currencies Edge Higher The Australian dollar (AUD/USD) gained 0.12 percent to 0.6453, while the New Zealand dollar (NZD/USD) advanced 0.22 percent to 0.5971, supported by improved risk appetite in Asian trading. Global Markets Close Mixed on Monday; European and Asian Indices Show Divergence Monday's trading session saw mixed performances across global stock indices despite the sudden and violent attacks by the United States on Iran on Saturday night, with European markets mostly in the red while select Asian indices posted gains. Canadian Markets North of the U.S. border, Canada's S&P/TSX Composite (^GSPTSE) also closed higher, gaining 111.79 points or 0.42 percent to settle at 26,609.36, with 308.166 million shares traded. The index was supported by strength in energy and financial sectors. UK and European Markets The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) in London dipped slightly, closing at 8,758.04, down 16.61 points or 0.19 percent. Germany's DAX (^GDAXI) fell 81.54 points or 0.35 percent to 23,269.01, while France's CAC 40 (^FCHI) dropped 52.09 points or 0.69 percent to 7,537.57. The broader EURO STOXX 50 (^STOXX50E) declined 11.68 points or 0.22 percent to 5,221.90, and the Euronext 100 (^N100) slipped 3.23 points or 0.21 percent to 1,555.79. Belgium's BEL 20 (^BFX) was a rare bright spot, edging up 2.45 points or 0.06 percent to 4,441.98. Asian Markets Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (^HSI) rose 158.65 points or 0.67 percent to 23,689.13, while China's Shanghai Composite ( gained 21.69 points or 0.65 percent to 3,381.58. Malaysia's KLSE (^KLSE) climbed 13.87 points or 0.92 percent to 1,516.61. However, other Asian markets struggled. Japan's Nikkei 225 (^N225) slipped 49.14 points or 0.13 percent to 38,354.09, and South Korea's KOSPI (^KS11) lost 7.37 points or 0.24 percent to 3,014.47. India's Sensex (^BSESN) dropped sharply by 511.38 points or 0.62 percent to 81,896.79, while Taiwan's TWSE (^TWII) tumbled 313.72 points or 1.42 percent to 21,732.02. Pacific & Middle East Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO) fell 30.60 points or 0.36 percent to 8,474.90, and the All Ordinaries (^AORD) declined 35.50 points or 0.41 percent to 8,688.00. New Zealand's NZX 50 (^NZ50) dipped 36.40 points or 0.29 percent to 12,532.65. In the Middle East, Egypt's EGX 30 (^CASE30) surged 362.70 points or 1.17 percent to 31,418.70, while Israel's TA-125 (^ dropped 38.61 points or 1.32 percent to 2,881.01. Looking Ahead Investors remain cautious amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over what will happen next in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. The mixed performance across regions suggests a lack of clear directional momentum as markets await further Mideast developments,, and key economic data later in the week.
