UK stock markets fell on Monday as shares in British American Tobacco slumped on report of a U.S. criminal probe, while signs that Britain will remain under lockdown for a longer period dented the mood.
(RTTNews) - French stocks opened higher on Tuesday as a flattening of the coronavirus curve pointed to the slowing of the spread of the disease globally and solid trade data from China helped ease fears of a deep global recession.
The Philippines introduced a more aggressive testing programme for the coronavirus on Tuesday to locate what it said could be as many as 15,000 unknown infections, despite having implemented some of Asia's strictest and earliest lockdown measures.
Hong Kong shares closed higher on
Tuesday after China reported smaller-than-expected contractions
in imports and exports in March, and as fears over the global
spread of the new coronavirus eased.
** The Hang Seng index ended up 135.07 points or 0.56% at
24,435.40. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index rose
0.37% to 9,847.47.
** The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares dipped 1.1%, while the IT sector rose 1.12%,
the financial sector ended 0.6% higher and the property
sector rose 1.05%.
** China's exports fell 6.6% in March from a year earlier, while
imports shrank 0.9%, a better-than-expected outcome as factories
restarted production, though the global coronavirus health
crisis looks set to keep trade under pressure over coming
months. [nB9N2BR00K]
** The top gainer on the Hang Seng was CK Asset Holdings Ltd, which gained 3.76%, while the biggest loser was AAC
Technologies Holdings Inc, which fell 3.21%.
** China's main Shanghai Composite index closed up 1.59%
at 2,827.28, while the blue-chip CSI300 index ended up
1.93%.
** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 1.28%, while Japan's Nikkei index closed up 3.13%.
** The yuan was quoted at 7.0583 per U.S. dollar at
0825 GMT, 0.08% weaker than the previous close of 7.053.
** The top gainers among H-shares were BYD Co Ltd up
3.33%, followed by CITIC Securities Co Ltd, gaining
3.31% and China Conch Venture Holdings Ltd, up by 3%.
** The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were CNOOC
Ltd, which was down 2.69%, PetroChina Co Ltd, which fell 2.68% and Sunny Optical Technology Group
Co Ltd, down by 2.31%.
(Reporting by Andrew Galbraith; editing by Uttaresh.V)
((Andrew.Galbraith@tr.com; +86 21 2083 0079; Reuters Messaging:
andrew.galbraith.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net ; Twitter: https://twitter.com/apgalbraith))
nAZN18NU00
Australia's jobless rate is forecast to spike to the highest level in a quarter of a century because of the coronavirus pandemic, but officials said on Tuesday it was still too soon to let up on social restrictions that are curbing economic growth.
AstraZeneca Plc said on Tuesday that it would start a clinical trial to assess the potential of Calquence in the treatment of the exaggerated immune response associated with COVID-19 infection in severely ill patients.
(RTTNews) - Julius Baer Group Ltd. (JBARF.PK) announced that it has proposed to split 2019 distribution of CHF 1.50 per share into two payments following a request by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA.
Spain's Cellnex said on Tuesday it had agreed to acquire Portuguese mobile operator NOS's telecom-tower business for an initial sum of 375 million euros ($409.69 million).
Coupang Corp, one of South Korea's biggest e-commerce firms, said on Tuesday its operating loss shrank by a third last year, helped by a 64% climb in revenue as it expanded its customer base and online demand for home appliances and groceries surged.
South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar early on Tuesday, in line with a rally in riskier currencies as China's trade data painted a less gloomy picture of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic than markets had feared.
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon says Tim Paine has been "absolutely incredible" since taking over as test captain during turbulent times and expects the wicketkeeper to continue in the role for the foreseeable future.
Japanese government bond prices edged lower on Tuesday after U.S. bond prices sagged on optimism that the coronavirus epidemic in the United States is nearing its peak.
Asian equities extended gains on Tuesday after China's trade data came in better than expected and as some nations tried to restart their economy by partly lifting restrictions aimed at containing the coronavirus outbreak.
British clothing retailer Next will reopen its online business having implemented additional safety measures to cope with the coronavirus emergency, it said on Tuesday.
The new coronavirus caused barely a blip in China's imports of major commodities, but this likely underscores the ways China differs from the rest of the world, rather than providing a template for the globe's recovery from the pandemic.
AstraZeneca Plc said on Tuesday that it would start a clinical trial to assess the potential of Calquence in the treatment of the exaggerated immune response associated with COVID-19 infection in severely ill patients.
UK-based event organiser Hyve said on Tuesday it was considering raising equity among other options to shore up its balance sheet as it secured a debt commitment waiver for June amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan's Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance [FKMLI.UL] plans to step up investments in risk assets such as stocks and foreign bonds, seeking portfolio diversification to secure a steady income to offset low global bond yields, a senior official said.