KOSPI Financial News

Asian stocks are mixed after Wall Street rallied and Japanese wages rose ahead of a U.S. inflation update that might influence Federal Reserve plans for possible interest rate hikes

unemployment rate was at a historically low level of 3.5%, below June’s 3.6% figure. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded little lower. The index lost 2.3% last week.

jobless benefits increased slightly last week, while layoffs dropped to an 11-month low in July, labor department report showed. A separate report showed that the US services sector slowed in July. Investors will now focus on the jobs report for July that is due on Friday.

Fitch downgraded the United States to AA+ from AAA, citing expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years as well as growing government debt. Meanwhile, private payrolls data in the US showed that the companies added 324,000 new jobs last month, much higher than the consensus estimates. In Asia, investors will focus on the Caixin private survey for China’s service sector activity in July.

Read here: Fitch cuts US credit rating to AA after debt limit standoffs Meanwhile, a report from the Institute for Supply Management said that in July manufacturing contracted at a slightly worse pace than economists expected, but not as badly as it did in June. A separate report from S&P Global also said US manufacturing is continuing to decline. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 declined 1.48%, while the Topix fell 1.11%.

Also Read: Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today — 1st August Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.15%, while the Topix was flat. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.66% and the Kosdaq added 0.48%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures traded around 270 points higher at 20,348, hinting a stronger open.

Investing.com — Most Asian stocks rose on Thursday as appetite for risk-driven markets was boosted by the Federal Reserve raising interest rates as expected and downplaying the prospect of a U.S. recession this year.

US Federal Reserve raised interest rates to their highest level in over 22 years while keeping the doors open for another rate hike. The US Fed hiked interest rates by 25 bps to a target range of 5.25-5.5%, on the expected lines, bringing US benchmark funds rate to the highest level since 2001 to tackle sticky, high inflation. The Fed chair Jerome Powell also hinted at a possibility of further increases, going ahead.

Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks kept to a tight range on Tuesday as markets awaited more cues from a Federal Reserve meeting this week, while Chinese markets rose sharply after top officials promised more policies to support growth. 

retail sales rose less than expected in June on a fall in building materials and service station receipts. In Asia, according to the Reuters Tankan survey, which measures confidence among large Japanese companies, business sentiment among manufacturers in Japan declined for the first time in six months in July. Also Read: Day trading guide for today: Six buy or sell stocks on Wednesday - July 19 Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1% and the Topix rose 0.94%.

Also Read: Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today — 18th July Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.81% and the Topix gained 0.76%. South Korea’s Kospi eased marginally, while the Kosdaq rose 0.76%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures were around 35 points higher at 19,450.

Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks moved in a flat-to-low range on Monday, while Chinese markets fell sharply after data showed that economic growth in the country slowed substantially through the second quarter. 

US Federal Reserve continued to sound cautious, with Governor Christopher Waller Thursday saying that he expected two more rate hikes this year to bring inflation down to the 2% goal, though more good data on prices could obviate the need for the second hike.  Also Read: Q1 earnings, global cues & more: Key triggers for stock markets this week Japanese markets are closed for a holiday. China's Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.58% to 3,219.02, while the Shenzhen Composite Index dropped 0.34% to 2,051.13. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 0.43%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures were trading around 100 points lower at 19,319.

Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks rose further on Friday, capping off a positive week on signs of cooling U.S. inflation, with focus now turning to upcoming data offering more cues on the Chinese economy. 

inflation data from India and the US to be released later today. US stock futures were little changed in early Asian trade, while Japanese and South Korean markets fell. Investors await the inflation data for further cues on the outlook for interest rates in the US and India.

Asian stock markets followed Wall Street higher Tuesday ahead of an update on U.S. consumer prices that traders hope will show inflation is easing, reducing the need for more interest rate hikes

Investing.com — Most Asian stocks rose sharply on Tuesday amid expectations that the Federal Reserve was close to concluding its rate hike cycle for the year, while the prospect of more stimulus measures from China also aided sentiment.

Investing.com — Most Asian stocks fell on Thursday, tracking a decline in U.S. markets as the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s June meeting presented a hawkish outlook, while weak economic signals and fears of a Sino-U.S. trade war also weighed.

minutes showed that the central bank was split on pausing interest rate hikes in June and sees more rate hikes at a slower pace going ahead. At the June 13-14 meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)’s decision to hold  interest rate after 10 consecutive increases was to buy time and assess whether further rate hikes would be needed, the minutes showed On the domestic front, the Indian equity indices ended flat on Wednesday after hitting record highs for the last four consecutive sessions. After showing high volatility at high levels, Nifty continued to show consolidation movement on Wednesday and closed the day higher by 09 points.  “Global worries along with moderation in Service PMI data briefly impacted the domestic market’s rally.

Indian market scaled record high for the fourth consecutive session on Tuesday led by robust foreign capital inflow amid optimism over the country’s bright macroeconomic outlook. Also Read: Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends buying in 3 stocks today — 5 July Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.36% and the Topix fell 0.5%. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.15% and the Kosdaq rose 0.11%.

Investing.com — Most Asian stocks surged on Monday as a drop in U.S. inflation ramped up hopes for a less hawkish Federal Reserve, while data showing improving sentiment towards the Japanese economy put the Nikkei index back at 33-year highs.