Asia News
Australia stocks set for higher start as investors look ahead to Fed rate decision
SINGAPORE — Shares in Australia looked set for a higher start on Wednesday, with investors looking ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision expected later stateside. Futures pointed to a higher open for Australian stocks. The SPI futures contract was at 7,328, against the S&P/ASX 200’s last close at 7,316.20. Markets in Japan […]
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Australian markets set to fall ahead of closely watched interest rate decision
SINGAPORE — Stocks in Australia were poised to fall Tuesday ahead of a rate decision by the country’s central bank. Futures pointed to a lower open for Australian stocks. The SPI futures contract was at 7,299, as compared to the S&P/ASX 200’s last close at 7,347. Economic data in the day ahead includes Australia’s interest […]
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Asia-Pacific stocks mixed as data show Chinese factory activity contracted in April
SINGAPORE — Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Monday morning trade, with data released over the weekend showing Chinese factory activity contracted in April. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 climbed about 0.1% in early trade while the Topix index gained 0.13%. South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.83%. Australia stocks declined, with the S&P/ASX 200 dipping 0.16%. […]
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Facing election, Australian prime minister decries China’s interference
With most polls showing Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative coalition headed for a loss in the May 21 election, it has sought to highlight its national security credentials. Str | AFP | Getty Images Australia’s prime minister accused China on Saturday of “form,” or a record, on interference in foreign politics, after his home […]
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South Africa seeing another Covid surge, this time from new omicron subvariant
A health worker administers a Covid-19 vaccine to a student during a rural vaccination drive in Mpumalanga, South Africa. A new omicron subvariant in the country that scientists call BA.4 started pushing up cases in April, Salim Abdool Karim, who previously advised the government on its Covid-19 response, told the Associated Press. Bloomberg | Getty […]
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China factory activity contracts in April at steeper pace as lockdowns bite
Employees working on the production line of carbon fiber badminton rackets at a factory in Sihong County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province of China. China reported Saturday that factory activity in April contracted at a steeper pace as Covid-19 lockdowns halted industrial production and disrupted supply chains. Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s factory activity […]
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Asia-Pacific stocks rise following overnight Wall Street surge
SINGAPORE — Shares in Asia-Pacific climbed in Friday morning trade following big gains overnight on Wall Street as the Nasdaq Composite surged 3%. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.27% while the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia advanced 0.46%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.26% higher. Investors watched moves in Asia-Pacific technology stocks after […]
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Asia-Pacific stocks set for higher start as investors await Bank of Japan monetary policy decision
SINGAPORE — Asia-Pacific stocks looked set to trade higher at the Thursday open, as investors in the region look ahead to the Bank of Japan’s latest monetary policy decision. Futures pointed to a higher open for Japanese stocks. The Nikkei futures contract in Chicago was at 26,485 while its counterpart in Osaka was at 26,480, […]
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Asia-Pacific stocks are set for opening declines following Wall Street drop
SINGAPORE — Shares in Asia-Pacific looked set for a lower open on Wednesday after overnight losses saw the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite sliding to a fresh low for 2022. Futures pointed to a lower open for Japanese stocks. The Nikkei futures contract in Chicago was at 26,125 while its counterpart in Osaka was at 26,000. That […]
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Asia-Pacific markets set to open mixed; China’s Covid fears in focus as Beijing expands mass testing
SINGAPORE — Futures pointed to a mixed open for markets in Asia-Pacific as investors are set to closely watch market reaction to Covid fears in China as Beijing expands mass testing. Japan’s Nikkei futures contract in Chicago was at 26,875 while Osaka futures were at 26,810 — higher than the Nikkei 225’s last close at […]
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