- Barry Adams
- 12 Sep, 2025
- New York City
Popular benchmark indexes on Wall Street hovered near record highs as investors shifted their focus to the Fed's rate decisions.
The S&P 500 index edged down 0.1%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite decreased a fraction in Friday's trading.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite advanced to new record highs after investors cheered the consumer price inflation report for August.
However, the jobless claims hogged the limelight after the initial weekly claims rose to a four-year high of 263,000 at the end of the first week of September.
And the continuing jobless claims held nearly steady at 1.94 million.
Fed policymakers are in a tough spot as they try to balance the dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment.
While inflation is contained but far from the Fed's target rate of 2%, policymakers are worried about the lagging impact of the sharp escalation in import taxes on goods.
Moreover, job market conditions are deteriorating as businesses are not firing but also not hiring new employees, and the average increase in payrolls in the last three months to August fell to 29,000.
For now, market participants are convinced that the policy makers' committee is set to lower the fed funds rate by at least 25 basis points on September 18.
U.S. Stock Movers
Adobe Inc.rose 2.5% to $361.01 after the content software developer's quarterly results surpassed market expectations.
In the fiscal third quarter ending on August 29, consolidated revenue increased to $6 billion from $5.4 billion, net income soared to $1.8 billion from $1.7 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to $4.18 from $3.76 a year ago.
During the quarter, Adobe repurchased approximately 8.0 million shares.
Adobe guided fiscal fourth-quarter revenue to be between $6.075 billion and $6.125 billion, earnings per share between $4.27 and $4.32, and adjusted earnings per share between $5.35 and $5.40.
Adobe guided full-year revenue to be between $23.65 billion and $23.70 billion, earnings per share between $16.53 and $16.58, and adjusted earnings per share between $20.80 and $20.85.
The Kroger Co. inched up 0.4% to $67.48 after the food retailer reported a 30% increase in net income in the fiscal second quarter ending on August 16.
Consolidated revenue inched higher to $33.94 billion from $33.91 billion, net income climbed to $609 million from $466 million, and diluted earnings per share soared to 91 cents from 64 cents a year ago.
The company reported a 16% increase in e-commerce sales.
In the fiscal fourth quarter of 2024, Kroger launched a $5 billion accelerated share repurchase program, expected to be completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2025.
The ASR is part of a $7.5 billion share repurchase authorization, with the remaining $2.5 billion planned for open market repurchases by the end of FY2025.
Kroger guided full-year identical sales without fuel to be between 2.7% and 3.4%, operating profit between $4.8 billion and $4.9 billion, earnings per share between $4.70 and $4.80, and an effective tax rate of 18.5%.
RH dropped 7.5% to $211.0 after the furniture retailer reported weaker-than-expected revenue in the fiscal second quarter ending on August 2.
Revenue rose 8.4% to $899.2 million from $829.7 million, net income soared 79% to $51.7 million from $28.95 million, and diluted earnings per share advanced to $2.62 from $1.45 a year ago.
The furniture retailer guided third-quarter revenue growth between 8% and 10% and adjusted operating margin of 12% and 13%; full-year revenue growth between 8% and 10%; and adjusted operating margin of 13% to 14%.
Super Micro Computer jumped 6.6% to $46.85, and the company confirmed the start of volume shipments of its custom servers with Nvidia Blackwell Ultra solutions to its worldwide customers.
- Arjun Pandit
- 12 Sep, 2025
- Mumbai
Stocks in Mumbai gained on Friday and extended weekly advances for the second consecutive week in a row.
The Sensex and Nifty indexes advanced 0.4%, and they increased more than 1% amid hopes of higher holiday sales following the deep GST reforms.
India's benchmark indexes advanced in four of the past five weeks, after falling for the previous six consecutive weeks.
Investors cheered the Goods and Services Tax restructuring and other tax collection and refund simplification steps ahead of the critical holiday season.
India's consumer price inflation is likely to stay near 2.1%, towards the bottom end of the range set by the Reserve Bank of India.
The statistical bureau is scheduled to release its monthly update later today.
Despite the elevated trade tensions with the U.S., investors held out for a conclusion of trade talks in the near future following positive comments by a White House official.
India Indexes and Stocks
The Sensex index edged up 0.4% to 81,904.03, and the Nifty index advanced 0.4% to 25,111.55.
Infosys Ltd. increased 1.2% to ₹1,528.30, and the company's board approved its largest-ever stock repurchase program worth ₹18,000 crore.
JSW Energy Ltd. increased 0.8% to ₹525.55 following the company's announcement that it commissioned a 317 MW renewable energy plant in August.
Insolation Energy Ltd. increased 1% to ₹198.90 after the company won a solar module order worth ₹143.20 crore.
Asian Paints Ltd. decreased 0.5% to ₹2,543.0, and the Mumbai High Court dismissed its plea against an antitrust inquiry.
- Arjun Pandit
- 12 Sep, 2025
- Mumbai
Stocks in Mumbai gained on Friday and extended weekly advances for the second consecutive week in a row.
The Sensex and Nifty indexes advanced 0.4%, and they increased more than 1% amid hopes of higher holiday sales following the deep GST reforms.
India's benchmark indexes advanced in four of the past five weeks, after falling for the previous six consecutive weeks.
Investors cheered the Goods and Services Tax restructuring and other tax collection and refund simplification steps ahead of the critical holiday season.
India's consumer price inflation is likely to stay near 2.1%, towards the bottom end of the range set by the Reserve Bank of India.
The statistical bureau is scheduled to release its monthly update later today.
Despite the elevated trade tensions with the U.S., investors held out for a conclusion of trade talks in the near future following positive comments by a White House official.
India Indexes and Stocks
The Sensex index edged up 0.4% to 81,904.03, and the Nifty index advanced 0.4% to 25,111.55.
Infosys Ltd. increased 1.2% to ₹1,528.30, and the company's board approved its largest-ever stock repurchase program worth ₹18,000 crore.
JSW Energy Ltd. increased 0.8% to ₹525.55 following the company's announcement that it commissioned a 317 MW renewable energy plant in August.
Insolation Energy Ltd. increased 1% to ₹198.90 after the company won a solar module order worth ₹143.20 crore.
Asian Paints Ltd. decreased 0.5% to ₹2,543.0, and the Mumbai High Court dismissed its plea against an antitrust inquiry.
- Akira Ito
- 12 Sep, 2025
- Washington, D.C.
Japan's market indexes advanced on Friday and extended weekly gains, tracking the advances in overnight trading in New York.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 1%, and the Topix gained 0.5%, and they advanced 4% and 2% after a week of trading, respectively.
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo followed the U.S. markets higher amid rising expectations that the Federal Reserve is more likely to cut rates at the end of the two-day policy meeting on September 18.
Consumer price inflation accelerated to a seven-month high of 2.9% in August from 2.7% in the previous month, but the core rate of inflation held steady at 3.1%.
Meanwhile, initial jobless claims rose 27,000 to 263,000 at the end of the first week in September, and continuing claims held steady at 1.94 million, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on Thursday.
The rapidly slowing job market expansion and elevated inflation complicated policymakers' task, but investors held out for a rate cut of at least 25 basis points next week.
Closer to home, the Bank of Japan is likely to continue raising rates at a gradual pace, and investors weighed growing political uncertainty after the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average advanced 1% to 44,821.43, and the broader Topix added 0.5% to 3,163.83.
Tokyo Electron Ltd. rose 4.9% to ¥22,460.0, Advantest Corp. gained 2% to ¥13,980.0, and Lasertec increased 0.4% to ¥16,660.0.
Nippon Yusen K.K. decreased 0.4% to ¥5,564.0, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines declined 0.2% to ¥4,839.0, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha added 0.4% to ¥2,333.0.
Marubeni Corp. increased 0.6% to ¥3,520.0, Mitsubishi Corp. edged up 0.4% to ¥3,456.0, Sumitomo Corp. gained 0.2% to ¥4,332.0, and Itochu Corp. edged up 0.04% to ¥8,569.0.
- Akira Ito
- 12 Sep, 2025
- Washington, D.C.
Japan's market indexes advanced on Friday and extended weekly gains, tracking the advances in overnight trading in New York.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 1%, and the Topix gained 0.5%, and they advanced 4% and 2% after a week of trading, respectively.
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo followed the U.S. markets higher amid rising expectations that the Federal Reserve is more likely to cut rates at the end of the two-day policy meeting on September 18.
Consumer price inflation accelerated to a seven-month high of 2.9% in August from 2.7% in the previous month, but the core rate of inflation held steady at 3.1%.
Meanwhile, initial jobless claims rose 27,000 to 263,000 at the end of the first week in September, and continuing claims held steady at 1.94 million, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on Thursday.
The rapidly slowing job market expansion and elevated inflation complicated policymakers' task, but investors held out for a rate cut of at least 25 basis points next week.
Closer to home, the Bank of Japan is likely to continue raising rates at a gradual pace, and investors weighed growing political uncertainty after the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average advanced 1% to 44,821.43, and the broader Topix added 0.5% to 3,163.83.
Tokyo Electron Ltd. rose 4.9% to ¥22,460.0, Advantest Corp. gained 2% to ¥13,980.0, and Lasertec increased 0.4% to ¥16,660.0.
Nippon Yusen K.K. decreased 0.4% to ¥5,564.0, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines declined 0.2% to ¥4,839.0, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha added 0.4% to ¥2,333.0.
Marubeni Corp. increased 0.6% to ¥3,520.0, Mitsubishi Corp. edged up 0.4% to ¥3,456.0, Sumitomo Corp. gained 0.2% to ¥4,332.0, and Itochu Corp. edged up 0.04% to ¥8,569.0.
- Li Chen
- 12 Sep, 2025
- Hong Kong
Stocks in China and Hong Kong advanced and extended weekly gains as investors held out for a rate cut next week.
The Hang Seng index soared 1.5% and extended weekly gains to over 4% following a rally in overnight trading in New York.
The latest market advance was driven by the expectations of at least a 25 basis point rate cut in the U.S. next week after August's inflation data matched market expectations.
Consumer price inflation accelerated to 2.9% in August from 2.7% in July, and the core rate of inflation held steady at 3.1%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, initial jobless claims at the end of the first week in September inched higher by 27,000 to a four-year high of 263,000, and continuing claims were stable at 1.94 million.
The steady rise in jobless claims confirmed the deteriorating labor market conditions amid tariff-driven headwinds and macroeconomic uncertainty.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely anticipated to lower rates at the end of the two-day policy meeting on September 18, and most market participants are expecting a rate cut of at least 25 basis points.
The European Central Bank left its key lending rates unchanged for the second consecutive meeting, and policymakers revised the slightly higher GDP growth rate to 1.2% from 0.9% and the inflation estimate to 2.1% from 2.0% in June, respectively.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index added 1.5% to 26,495.76, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 index edged up 0.02% to 4,548.85.
Residential property stocks advanced in the hopes that the HKMA will follow a possible rate cut in the U.S. next week.
China Vanke Co. Ltd. edged up 5.4% to HK$5.90, Longfor Group advanced 4.5% to $11.86, Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. increased 1.2% to HK$96.50, and CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. added 0.6% to HK$52.50.