(RTTNews) - The Hong Kong stock market has finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the two-day winning streak in which it had jumped more than 950 points or 3.6 percent. The Hang Seng Index now rests just above the 24,750-point plateau although it's tipped to
(RTTNews) - The Hong Kong stock market has finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the two-day winning streak in which it had jumped more than 950 points or 3.6 percent. The Hang Seng Index now rests just above the 24,750-point plateau although it's tipped to
AlexSecret/E+ via Getty Images Key Takeaways • Markets: US equities delivered solid gains over the fourth quarter of 2025, maintaining their upward trajectory against a backdrop of generally robust corporate earnings, despite mixed economic signals and investor concerns about stretched technology valuations. Continued monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) helped investor sentiment. The o...
AlexSecret/E+ via Getty Images Key Takeaways • Markets: US equities delivered solid gains over the fourth quarter of 2025, maintaining their upward trajectory against a backdrop of generally robust corporate earnings, despite mixed economic signals and investor concerns about stretched technology valuations. Continued monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) helped investor sentiment. The outperformance of the Magnificent Seven mega-capitalization technology stocks during the quarter drove gains for the S&P 500 Index. • Contributors: A lack of exposure to Meta Platforms ( META ) was the quarter's top relative individual contributor. Selection in the financials and industrials sectors contributed on a relative basis, as did a lack of exposure to real estate. • Detractors: The key driver of underperformance was a lack of exposure to Google parent Alphabet ( GOOGL ) and several stocks in the information technology (IT) sector that advanced sharply but did not meet the portfolio's dividend screen for investment. Positioning in IT and materials weighed on returns, along with a lack of exposure to communication services. • Outlook: We have made a number of changes to the portfolio, which we believe better positions it to perform across market cycles, increasing allocations to high-conviction areas and key secular themes. We believe greater exposure to such secular growth themes as artificial intelligence (AI), energy transition, digitalization, innovation in biopharma and growth in wealth management should help the portfolio. Looking ahead to 2026, we believe the equity market environment could continue to broaden and provide opportunities across a wide range of sectors. We see attractive opportunities for dividend growth investors as many companies with strong balance sheets, pricing power and disciplined capital allocation continue to differentiate themselves from more leveraged or speculative peers. Our focus remains on identifying high-quality companies with du...
gorodenkoff U.S. equity futures surged Monday evening after a report that President Donald Trump is prepared to wind down the military campaign against Iran within weeks, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. S&P 500 futures ( SPX ) climbed +0.62% to 6,382, while Dow futures ( INDU ) added +0.66% to 45,515. Nasdaq 100 futures ( US100:IND ) rose +0.48% to 23,062. The moves came after the Wal...
gorodenkoff U.S. equity futures surged Monday evening after a report that President Donald Trump is prepared to wind down the military campaign against Iran within weeks, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. S&P 500 futures ( SPX ) climbed +0.62% to 6,382, while Dow futures ( INDU ) added +0.66% to 45,515. Nasdaq 100 futures ( US100:IND ) rose +0.48% to 23,062. The moves came after the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump told aides he is willing to end hostilities on a four-to-six week timeline, prioritizing the degradation of Iran's navy and missile stocks over the more complex mission of reopening the strait. Markets appeared to read the prospect of a near-term ceasefire as grounds for a risk-on move, setting aside the unresolved energy picture. The relief rally comes against a complicated macro backdrop. U.S. crude ( CL1:COM ) ( USO ) closed Monday above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022, with some analysts projecting prices could reach $200 if the Hormuz closure proves sustained. Around a fifth of global oil supply transits the waterway. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that current military objectives would be completed within weeks, after which the strait question would fall to Iran or a multinational coalition to resolve. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that markets remain "well-supplied" and that freedom of navigation would be restored over time, through U.S. or multinational escorts. Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on the markets The Dollar's Strength The S&P 500 Fell Almost 9%, And I Took The Opportunity To Buy More (Here's Why) Another Monday Madness: A Tech Take Stock index futures fall as Trump delays Iran energy strikes Next phase of Iran trade: checking the tape before the tweet?