The South Korea stock market on Thursday ended the four-day losing streak in which it had plunged almost 125 points or 4.6 percent. The KOSPI now sits just beneath the 2,635-point plateau although it may spin its wheels on Friday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is murky amid a lack of catalysts, while...

The Singapore stock market has tracked higher in consecutive trading days, collecting more than 40 points or 1.3 percent along the way. The Straits Times Index now rests just beneath the 3,190-point plateau although the rally may stall on Friday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is murky amid a lack of catalysts, while...

The Taiwan stock market has moved higher in two straight sessions, advancing almost 400 points or 2 percent along the way. The Taiwan Stock Exchange now sits just above the 20,300-point plateau although it\'s expected to open under pressure on Friday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is murky amid a lack of catalysts,...

The China stock market has moved higher in back-to-back sessions, collecting almost 70 points or 3.4 percent along the way. The Shanghai Composite Index now sits just beneath the 3,075-point plateau although investors may cash in on Friday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is murky amid a lack of catalysts, while concerns over...

The Hong Kong stock market has moved higher in consecutive trading days, advancing almost 140 points or 0.9 percent along the way. The Hang Seng Index now sits just above the 16,380-point plateau although it\'s likely to open in the red on Friday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is murky amid a lack...

German stocks traded notably lower on Friday as investors reacted to hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials and signs of escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Iran downplaying Israel\'s retaliatory attack. In economic releases, Germany\'s producer prices continued to decline in March, though at the slowest pace in nine months, data published by Destatis...

UK retail sales were unchanged on a month-on-month basis in March, defying expectations for a gain, preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics showed Friday. Retail sales including automotive fuel grew 0.1 percent in the previous month. Economists were looking for a 0.3 percent gain for March. This was the weakest outcome since December,...

French stocks edged lower on Friday as an escalation of the tensions in the Middle East and cautious comments from more Federal Reserve officials on how to manage inflation and interest rates in the coming months soured investor mood. The benchmark CAC 40 was down 44 points, or 0.6 percent, at 7,978 after gaining half...

U.K. stocks declined on Friday as Middle East tensions flared up and investors scaled back their expectations for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year. Meanwhile, U.K. retail sales came in unchanged on a month-on-month basis in March, defying expectations for a gain. Retail sales including automotive fuel grew 0.1 percent in the...

Sony Pictures Entertainment, affiliated to Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corp., is in discussions with US private equity group Apollo Global for making a joint takeover bid for entertainment giant Paramount Global, reports said citing people familiar with the matter. The talks are said to be in an early stage. Following the news, Paramount Global shares...