Business

Global stocks mixed as US-China trade talks resume

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stocks were mixed Thursday following lackluster economic data as high-stakes trade talks between the US and China resumed in Washington. Frankfurt was a touch higher at the close and Paris ended flat, while London lost nearly one percent, and US stocks fell. Fresh economic data showed manufacturing in the eurozone and Japan shrank in February, which was seen as evidence of global economic sluggishness amid the US-China trade […]

Tokyo stocks lose steam after gains on dovish Fed signals

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks turned down Thursday after three days of gains as investors found few fresh buying pegs after dovish signals from the US central bank. The Nikkei 225 index opened slightly higher as Wall Street stocks edged up, following cues from the Federal Reserve. But the Tokyo benchmark soon fell into negative territory and lost 0.27 percent or 58.93 points to 21,372.56 in the first 30 minutes of trade. The broader Topix […]

Asian markets mixed after Fed minutes, eyes on trade talks

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets were mixed Thursday after the Federal Reserve left open the possibility it could lift interest rates this year, while investors kept an optimistic eye on China-US trade talks. Equities and other risk assets have enjoyed a stellar start to the year on hopes for the negotiations as well as expectations the US central bank will slow its pace of monetary tightening — with some even tipping a cut […]

Asian markets mixed after Fed minutes, eyes on trade talks

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets were mixed Thursday after the Federal Reserve left open the possibility it could lift interest rates this year, while investors kept an optimistic eye on China-US trade talks. Equities and other risk assets have enjoyed a stellar start to the year on hopes for the negotiations as well as expectations the US central bank will slow its pace of monetary tightening — with some even tipping a cut […]

Dubai budget airline flydubai loses $43.5-million in 2018

DUBAI, United States (AFP) — Dubai budget carrier flydubai chalked up a loss of $43.5 million in 2018, it said Wednesday, as airlines across the Gulf struggle with mounting costs and political tensions. The government-owned carrier, a sister of aviation giant Emirates, said total revenue for the year was up just over 12 percent to $1.7 billion. But this was not enough to offset its losses. The loss, a dramatic shift from a $10 million […]

Samsung launches folding smartphone, first 5G handset

by Glenn CHAPMAN Agence France Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Seeking to rev up demand in the slumping smartphone market, Samsung on Wednesday unveiled a folding handset, becoming the first major manufacturer to offer the feature. The South Korean giant also appeared to get the jump on rivals by announcing the first device for fifth-generation, or 5G wireless networks, one of four versions of its flagship smartphone, while stepping up its efforts in […]

Samsung bends over backwards to rev smartphone desire

by Glenn CHAPMAN Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Samsung on Wednesday is expected to unveil new flagship smartphones including one with a screen that can fold closed like a book as it seeks to boost the moribund market. Much of what is in store at a Galaxy Unpacked event that the South Korean consumer electronics giant is hosting in San Francisco has been revealed in leaks, including a Galaxy 10 television commercial […]

Tokyo stocks close higher for third straight session

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks rose for a third straight session on Wednesday, supported by a solid performance on Wall Street and hopes for progress in US-China trade talks. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 0.60 percent, or 128.84 points, to close at 21,431.49 while the broader Topix index was up 0.43 percent, or 6.95 points, at 1,613.47. “Investors were encouraged by growing expectations that the US-China trade talks will make progress,” Toshikazu Horiuchi, a […]

Asian markets, currencies boosted by trade optimism

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Growing optimism that China and the United States will reach a trade deal lifted most Asian equities Wednesday while the positive sentiment also provided support to regional currencies against the safe-bet dollar. The yuan was among the big gainers following a report that the US has called on China to stabilize the unit as part of any agreement between the world’s top economic powers. Wall Street returned from a long […]

HSBC profits rise in 2019 but last quarter hit by trade jitters

by Elaine YU Agence France-Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Banking giant HSBC said on Tuesday that pre-tax profit rose last year but it suffered a bruising final quarter as worries over the global economy and the US-China trade war began to bite. The London-headquartered behemoth told investors it was still aiming to meet targets despite the looming twin storms of Brexit and the long-running trade impasse between Washington and Beijing. But analysts warned it […]

Asian markets extend gains on cautious trade optimism

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday with investors cautiously optimistic that China and the US can reach a deal ending their trade war as the two sides prepare to resume talks this week. With New York closed for a public holiday there were few catalysts to drive buying, though the release of Federal Reserve minutes on Wednesday will be pored over for an idea of the bank’s interest rate plans. Top-level […]

Tokyo stocks open lower in thin trade after US holiday

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened lower on Tuesday as investors were seen taking a wait-and-see attitude after a holiday in the US market with a lack of fresh clues for trading. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 0.12 percent or 25.75 points at 21,256.10 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was lower by 0.10 percent or 1.61 points at 1,600.35. “Japanese shares are dominated by a wait-and-see attitude after the […]