Hong Kong

Global equity markets traded mixed on Thursday as US futures edged higher following losses on Wall Street, where declines in major technology stocks weighed on sentiment.

Oil prices slid sharply, dropping nearly USD 3 per barrel, after US President Donald Trump said he had been informed that Iran had halted plans for executions amid its ongoing crackdown on protests. The comments eased immediate geopolitical concerns, despite Tehran signalling that rapid trials and punishments could still lie ahead.

US benchmark crude fell USD 2.73, or 4.5 per cent, to USD 59.13 a barrel, while Brent crude dropped USD 2.94, or 4.4 per cent, to USD 63.58.

US equity futures pointed modestly higher, with S&P 500 futures rising 0.3 per cent and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures inching up less than 0.1 per cent.

European markets showed limited movement in early trade. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.4 per cent to 8,296.41, Germany’s DAX was largely flat at 25,291.73, while Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.5 per cent to 10,233.35.

Asian markets ended mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.4 per cent to 54,110.50, pressured by technology shares. SoftBank Group fell 4.9 per cent and semiconductor equipment maker Advantest lost 2.5 per cent.

Retailer Ryohin Keikaku, known for its Muji brand, surged nearly 12 per cent after reporting earnings that beat expectations. Toyota Industries jumped 6.2 per cent following reports that Toyota Motor had raised its buyout offer to 18,800 yen per share.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 0.3 per cent to 26,923.62. Shares of online travel firm Trip.com plunged 19 per cent after Chinese authorities announced an antitrust investigation. The Shanghai Composite also fell 0.3 per cent to 4,112.60 after regulators tightened margin requirements.

South Korea’s Kospi outperformed, rising 1.6 per cent to 4,797.55, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.5 per cent to 8,861.70. Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.4 per cent, with chipmaker TSMC down 1.2 per cent despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results and announcing plans to boost capital spending by nearly 40 per cent this year to meet growing AI-driven demand.

Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 0.5 per cent for a second straight session. The Dow Jones slipped 0.1 per cent, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 1 per cent, dragged lower by declines in heavyweight technology stocks amid concerns over stretched valuations in the artificial intelligence sector.

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In currency trading, the US dollar eased to 158.42 yen, while the euro dipped slightly to USD 1.1639.