European markets experienced a downturn today, hit by declines in the technology sector and sportswear manufacturers, as investors weighed the impact of the attacks The recent Red Sea for international trade. Additionally, market participants are eagerly awaiting the release of important US inflation data that could reinforce expectations of interest rate cuts next year.
The STOXX 600 index, a gauge of European stock performance, fell 0.2% by 0817 GMT. This decline is poised to culminate in the index's worst weekly showing in the past six weeks.
Prosus, a technology group headquartered in the Netherlands, saw its shares plummet 14.5%, contributing significantly to the tech sector's overall decline of 1.2%. The personal and household goods sector also faced setbacks, falling 0.6%. This was partly due to the performance of sportswear giants Adidas (ETR:ADSGN) and Puma, which saw their shares fall 6.1% and 4.4% respectively. These losses follow an announcement by US competitor Nike (NYSE:NKE), which revised its annual sales forecast downward, weighing on sentiment in the sector.
JD Sports, another player in the retail sector, lost 4.9% in its share price, while the broader retail sector recorded a loss of 0.9%.
Investors are now turning their attention to core US personal expenditures price index data, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation. This data is especially important as it could signal future monetary policy directions and will be published later today.
In response to recent hostilities in the Red Sea, two new shipping companies, including Germany's Hapag-Lloyd, announced their decision to stay away from the area. This move comes after attacks by the Houthi group in Yemen on shipping ships, disrupting global trade flows. In a move that contrasted with the broader market, Hapag-Lloyd shares rose 1%.
As the holiday season approaches, markets are closely watching these developments, which could have far-reaching implications for global trade and the trajectory of interest rates in the near future.
Reuters contributed to this article.
This article was created and translated with the help of AI and has been reviewed by an editor. For more information, see our Terms & Conditions.
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) signed an agreement today to reinvest RM270 million ($1=RM4.36) for the development rights of a prime office tower in PJ Sentral, Petaling Jaya. This strategic move is part of MRCB's broader plan to focus on its core development projects.
To fund this investment, MRCB will divest some non-core assets. The company has arranged to sell Plaza Alam Sentral Mall for RM178 million. Additionally, it will sell various residential properties, including Residensi Vivo and St. Regis KL, which will bring in RM79.926 million in total. The buyer of these assets is PKNS, the Selangor State Development Corporation.
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MRCB's decision to refocus on key development projects by divesting non-essential properties is in line with MRCB's long-term growth strategy. Despite this strategic announcement, the company's stock price fell slightly following the news release.
This article was created and translated with the help of AI and has been reviewed by an editor. For more information, see our Terms & Conditions.