European stock markets edged higher on Monday, after weekend data from China showed strong exports, though there was also news of a sharp drop in producer prices. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.2% to 269.96, with Total SA up 1%, but Rio Tinto PLC fell 1.3%. The German DAX 30 index rose 0.3% to 7,255.68, while the French CAC 40 index rose 0.4% to 3,403.85. The FTSE 100 index was flat at 5,798.61. More»

Asia stocks traded mostly lower Thursday, with a downgrade to Spain’s credit rating underscoring Europe’s debt troubles to investors already concerned about corporate earnings trends in a weaker global economy. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average  slipped 0.4%, extending the previous session’s 2% drop, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index  lost 0.1%. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3%, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index shook off early losses to trade up 0.2%. South Korea’s Kospi saw volatile trading after the Bank of Korea cut its policy interest rate by a quarter-point to 2.75%, as widely expected, in response to softness in the domestic economy amid a weakened global outlook. After moving in both directions, the Kospi traded down 1.1%. “Markets were getting a boost from the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve [support moves], but that’s started to wear off with delays in Spain and profit-reporting season in the U.S. creating a bit of nervousness,” said Shane Oliver, head of investment at AMP Capital. More»

Japanese stocks fell sharply to lead losses across most of Asia on Wednesday, with technology and steel firms taking a hit as concerns about growth and earnings weighed. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average  retreated 1.8% to extend losses made so far this week to 2.8%, putting the index back at early-August lows. South Korea’s Kospi  dropped 1.1%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index  lost 0.3% to back away from a 14-month high. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index  slipped 0.2% but the Shanghai Composite Index  reversed early losses to rise 0.1%. U.S. shares ended with sharp losses Tuesday, as investors took a cautious stance ahead of the start of the third-quarter earnings season. Read: U.S. stocks drop on earnings caution. “Risk aversion increased in the wake of lower revised growth estimates from the International Monetary Fund and worries that earnings will be far less flattering than in previous quarter,” said Mitul Kotecha, strategist at Credit Agricole. More»

European stock markets opened lower on Wednesday, as downbeat sentiment continued over global growth concerns and uncertainty over Spain and Greece. Investors were also eyeing late Tuesday results from Alcoa Inc. , which swung to a third-quarter loss after charges. The Stoxx Europe 600 index was slightly lower at 269.96, while the German DAX 30 index was flat at 7,231.57. The French CAC 40 index was down 0.1% to 3,377.74. The FTSE 100 index fell 0.1% to 5,805.76. More»

Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stocks jumped Tuesday as hopes for policy support from Beijing were strengthened after the People’s Bank of China injected a large dose of liquidity to ease tight conditions. Australian stocks climbed to a fresh 14-month high, as commodity producers rallied amid concerns about supply disruptions due to labor unrest in South Africa, while Japanese stocks declined as trading resumed after Monday’s holiday. The Shanghai Composite  advanced 1.6% to 2,108.87, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index  rose 1.2% to 21,065.28. Both markets had declined Monday, but rebounded strongly after the PBOC earlier Tuesday offered 265 billion yuan ($42.1 billion) in reverse repurchase agreements in an open-market operation — the second largest capital injection ever by the PBOC, according to Credit Agricole — in a bid to ease tight liquidity conditions. “The central bank seems to be scrambling to bring money market rates down in order to support growth,” said Dariusz Kowalcyzk, a senior economist and strategist at Credit Agricole. More»

European stock markets opened cautiously higher on Tuesday, tracking gains in Asian, where stimulus moves by the People’s Bank of China boosted bourses. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.2% to 272.01, recouping from a 1% drop the prior day. Drug makers helped lift the index, with Sanofi SA up 0.7% and Roche Holding AG 0.6% higher. Oil firms also posted gains alongside rising oil prices. BP PLC rose 0.7% and BG Group PLC added 0.4%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index traded 0.1% higher at 5,845.70. In France, Total SA gained 0.6% and Vinci SA put on 1.6% after a broker upgrade. The CAC 40 index advanced 0.3% to 3,415.66. Germany’s DAX 30 index was up 0.1% at 7,295.65, with BMW AG 0.8% higher after an upbeat sales report for September. More»

Asian markets fell Monday as resource-sector shares dropped on doubts about the duration of monetary easing after Friday’s upbeat U.S. jobs report, with concern about China’s economic growth also weighing on sentiment. The Shanghai Composite Index CN:000001 -0.56%  fell 0.6% after a volatile start to the day as mainland stock markets reopened after the Golden Week holidays. Snapping a five-trading-day winning-streak, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index HK:HSI -0.89%  fell 0.9%, South Korea’s Kospi KR:SEU -0.67%  dropped 0.7%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index AU:XJO -0.28%  slipped 0.3% and Taiwan’s Taiex XX:Y9999 -0.97% retreated 1%. Japanese bourses were closed for a holiday. “Creating a sustainable recovery in the jobs market is one of the core principles of the [U.S. Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing] program, and this positive data could mean QE won’t go on for as long as some hoped,” said Stan Shamu, a market strategist at IG Markets. The performance in Asia followed a mixed finish on Wall Street Friday, after monthly payrolls data showed the U.S. jobless rate unexpectedly dropped to 7.8%, its lowest level since January 2009. More»

South African stocks set a record high on Friday with mining shares among the top performers as investors chased bargains in the sector battered in recent days by a wave of wildcat strikes. A weaker rand, higher metal prices and an upbeat tone in global markets after data showed a surprise drop in the U.S. jobless rate added to the bullish sentiment. Mining companies benefit from a weaker rand because they sell commodities for dollars but pay most costs in rand. The South African rand extended losses against the dollar to 2 percent on an escalating labour crisis that has dented investor confidence. "The rand has weakened quite a lot in recent days and that makes South African stocks cheaper for foreign investors," Paul Chakaduka, a trader at Global Trader, said. "There's a bit of caution around mining shares but a lot people feel that these stocks have become cheap." More»

European stock markets tracked gains on Wall Street and in Asia early Friday, with resource firms and banks leading the charge, while focus turned to jobs data from the U.S. due later in the day. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +0.66% gained 0.5% to 272.74, on track to close out the week more than 1.5% higher. Oil firm BP PLC UK:BP +0.65% BP +0.76% rose 0.6%. On Thursday, the company was among notable decliners after disruptions to gas flows to Turkey. France’s Total SA FR:FP +0.89% TOT +0.46% gained 0.8%, while Italy’s ENI SpA IT:ENI +1.88% rose 1.4%. For the broader stock markets, all eyes were on the U.S., where the closely watched nonfarm payrolls report will be released later in the day. Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting showed late Thursday that a weak labor market was one of the main reasons the central bank pulled the trigger on its third round of quantitative easing. “The FOMC seems to be moving towards numerical thresholds in order to provide more clarity. There was a discussion on putting forward specific thresholds for unemployment and inflation to give guidance on how long rates would be close to zero,” analysts at Danske Bank said in a note. “Many participants supported this view but some members thought this could incorrectly be interpreted as automatic triggers of policy response.” U.S. stock markets closed higher, boosted by better-than-expected jobless claims data. Asia markets were mostly higher overnight, although Japanese shares wobbled after the Bank of Japan refrained from announcing further stimulus measures. The Bank of Russia also left its interest rates unchanged, despite signs of rising inflation. On Thursday, the European Central Bank kept its key lending rate unchanged at 0.75% and stopped short of adding further stimulus to the sluggish euro-zone economy. ECB President Mario Draghi, however, reiterated the central bank is ready to start buying government bonds, known as Outright Monetary Transactions, as soon as conditions are met by any nations in need of help. “Perhaps the only new detail on the OMT’s mechanics was that the ECB intervention would not take place while a given program is under review and would only resume after the review period once program compliance has been assured,” analysts at Deutsche Bank said in a note. “Clearly a tactic to maintain the necessary reform pressure on governments.” Investors are still closely monitoring Spain to see when, or if, the country will make an official bailout request, needed to trigger the bond purchase program aimed at reducing sovereign borrowing costs. Spain's Finance Minister Luis de Guindos said Thursday that the country does not require a bailout. More»

Asian stocks mostly rose Friday as investors pushed up commodity-related firms, while shares in Tokyo briefly slid into losses after the Bank of Japan refrained from announcing fresh monetary easing. With key U.S. jobs data on tap for later in the global trading day, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index AU:XJO +0.94% gained 0.9% to 4,494.40 for a seventh straight session of gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index HK:HSI +0.50% rose 0.5% to 21,012.38, South Korea’s Kospi KR:SEU +0.12% edged up 0.1% to 1,995.17 and Taiwan’s Taiex XX:Y9999 +0.11% climbed 0.1% to 7,690.65. Mainland Chinese markets remained closed for the Golden Week holidays. Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy at AMP Capital, said markets may struggle to extend recent gains in coming weeks, “given uncertainties regarding Spain, Greece and China.” However, the broad upward trend for share markets is likely to remain intact, he said, due to an expected pick-up in optimism over corporate profits, given recent central-bank moves to support economic growth. More»