HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Markets across the Asia-Pacific were in the red on Monday with investors worried about the impact of the China coronavirus outbreak on the global economy. The virus has killed more than 900 people, infected 40,000 across mainland China and spread to more than two dozen countries in what has been termed a global health emergency. It has also jolted major supply chains for everything from food and household supplies […]
Tag: stocks
Disappointing growth hits Google parent Alphabet shares
by Glenn CHAPMAN Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Google parent Alphabet missed revenue expectations in the fourth quarter despite stellar growth at YouTube and in the cloud, earnings figures released Monday showed. Detailing its cloud computing and YouTube revenues for the first time, Alphabet reported that profits rose 19 percent from a year ago in the quarter to nearly $10.7 billion as revenues increased 17 percent to $46 billion. Alphabet and Google chief […]
Travel, tourism stocks dive on virus woes as Hong Kong resumes trading
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Travel, tourism and property stocks tumbled in Hong Kong on Wednesday as panicked investors fretted over the economic impact of the virus in China that has now killed at least 132 and infected more people than SARS on the mainland. Dealers returned to trading floors for the first time after the Lunar New Year break and instantly began to sell, joining a global retreat that has wiped more than […]
Hong Kong stocks tumble on rating downgrade
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong stocks sank more than one percent at the start of business Tuesday after Moody’s cut the city’s credit rating, blaming the government’s response to months of sometimes violent protests. The Hang Seng Index fell 1.20 percent, or 346.53 points, to 28,449.38. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.32 percent, or 10.00 points, to 3,085.79 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, dropped 0.25 […]
Crude and gold extend gains, stocks sink on fear of US-Iran war
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Oil prices surged, gold hit a more than six-year high and equities tumbled Monday after the US assassination of a top Iranian general last week fanned fears of a major conflict in the Middle East. Donald Trump warned of a “major retaliation” against Tehran after it threatened revenge for the killing Friday of commander Qasem Soleimani, which shocked world markets and sparking a sell-off in stocks and a spike in crude. […]
Tokyo’s Nikkei closes up over 2.5% on UK election, trade talks
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei stock index jumped more than 2.5 percent Friday, boosted by hopes for a US-China trade deal, and a big election win for Britain’s ruling Conservative Party that paves the way for Brexit. The Nikkei 225 index rallied 2.55 percent, or 598.29 points, to close at 24,023.10, the highest since early October last year. Over the week, it gained 2.9 percent. The broader Topix index was up 1.59 percent, […]
Strong jobs report lifts US stocks
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Wall Street stocks gained early Friday after the October US jobs report topped expectations despite a hit from the General Motors strike. Employers added 128,000 net new jobs last month, the Labor Department reported, much better than the 80,000 projected by analysts and in spite of lower auto industry staffing that was apparent in data on that sector. “The key takeaway from the report is that it is not […]
Hong Kong stocks open with losses
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong started on the back foot Tuesday as investors fretted over geopolitical tensions following the weekend strike on Saudi oil fields that fuelled concerns of a conflict in the Gulf. The Hang Seng Index dropped 0.67 percent, or 181.59 points, to 26,942.96. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.23 percent, or 7.04 points, to 3,023.71 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, was […]
Tokyo stocks open higher on Wall St gains
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened higher on Wednesday, following rises on Wall Street, as concerns over the US-China trade row eased after President Donald Trump delayed tariffs on key Chinese goods. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.98 percent or 200.21 points to 20,655.65 in early trade while the broader Topix index was up 0.90 percent or 13.36 points at 1,499.93. “Japanese shares will be bought following the gains in US shares prompted […]
Cathay Pacific shares plunge after China warning on protests
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Shares in Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific plunged more than four percent on Monday, after Beijing banned airline staff supporting Hong Kong protesters from flights going through the mainland. Cathay shares lost 4.37 percent to HK$9.85 by the break in Hong Kong, with the carrier’s parent company Swire Pacific Ltd. plunging 5.26 percent to HK$77.50. The nosedive comes as the airline is caught up in pro-democracy protests that […]
Hong Kong media firm dives 90% as chairwoman arrested
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Shares in media company Camsing International crashed 90 percent in Hong Kong on Monday after saying its chairwoman had been arrested in China. In a statement to the city’s stock exchange, Camsing said the board became aware Friday that Lo Ching, who was also an executive director, was “currently being held in criminal custody” by the Yangpu Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. “The directors are unable to ascertain […]
Hong Kong rallies after extradition law U-turn as Asian markets bounce
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong stocks rallied Monday, leading many Asian markets higher after last week’s losses, with investors cheering a decision by the city to suspend plans to push through a controversial extradition law. Investors are also moving cautiously ahead of two huge market-moving events: the Federal Reserve policy meeting this week with its plans for interest rates in focus, and the G20 summit next week where US President Donald Trump […]





