Today's Asia Stocks Pulse
Japan and South Korea equities hit record highs as investors weigh Iran tensions
Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi posted fresh all‑time highs, buoyed by strong domestic earnings and a pivotal wage settlement at Samsung Electronics. The rally unfolded while markets assessed the impact of U.S. strikes in Iran and the fragile cease‑fire talks. Oil prices held gains as Asian shares climbed on the geopolitical backdrop.
UBS Says AI-Fueled Earnings Keep Asian Stocks Buoyant Despite High Japanese Bond Yields
Tan Min Lan of UBS Global Wealth Management argues that AI-driven earnings growth is keeping Asian equities attractive despite Japan's elevated JGB yields, with North Asia expected to post blockbuster earnings this year.
Shibaura Machine Co. Posts 92% Profit Drop as Revenue Falls 21% in FY 2025
Shibaura Machine Co. (6104.T) posted a net profit of ¥1.028 bn ($6.6 m) for the fiscal year, down 92% from ¥12.597 bn ($81.3 m) a year earlier, while revenue slid 21% to ¥132.815 bn ($858 m). The results spotlight weakening demand for industrial equipment amid a...
Singapore Keeps 2026 Growth Outlook at 2‑4% as Inflation Holds at 1.8%
Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry confirmed on May 25 that the city‑state will grow between 2.0% and 4.0% in 2026, unchanged from its February upgrade. Consumer price inflation remained steady at 1.8% YoY in April, providing a clear macro...
NZX 50 Slides 0.2% as Investors Await Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Earnings
The S&P/NZX 50 slipped 21 points (0.2%) to 12,970.28 as Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s upcoming earnings report weighed on the market. Exporters, property stocks and the broader NZ equity market also retreated amid optimism over a possible US‑Iran cease‑fire and...
ASX 200 Gains 0.5% to 8,704 as Mining and Banks Lead Rally
The S&P/ASX 200 index jumped 46.8 points, or 0.54%, to 8,703.8 on Monday, buoyed by gains in mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto and a modest uptick in the big‑four banks. The move underscores the resilience of Australia’s resource‑heavy market...
Nifty 50 Breaks Above 24,000? Here Are the Next Key Levels to Watch
Indian equities rallied on Monday as the Sensex jumped 1.43% to 76,491.74 and the Nifty 50 rose 1.32% to 24,032.30, buoyed by optimism over US‑Iran peace talks and a sharp fall in crude oil prices. The Nifty breached the psychological 24,000...
Taiwan Shares End at New High on AI, Eased Middle East Concerns
Taiwan's benchmark Taiex surged to a record‑high of 43,644.40, up 3.26% and marking the fifth‑largest point gain in its history. The rally was driven by renewed AI enthusiasm, sparked by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s upcoming Computex keynote, and by easing concerns...
Nifty Holds Near 24,000, Sensex Above 76,200 at Midday; Eicher Motors, Wipro Lead Gains
India’s Nifty 50 held at 23,954 points and the Sensex at 76,255 on May 25, staying just below the 24,000 and 76,700 resistance levels respectively. Market breadth was strong, with roughly 2,841 stocks advancing versus 1,276 declining. Auto leader Eicher...
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Tops 65,000 for First Time as Oil Falls on Hormuz Reopening Hopes
Japan’s Nikkei 225 broke the 65,000 mark for the first time, closing at 65,082, driven by a 3% jump as oil prices fell sharply. The decline in crude was triggered by President Donald Trump’s comments that Iran negotiations were progressing,...
Korea's Daily Stock Turnover Hits $49 Bn as Brokerage Earnings Surge
Korea Exchange reported a daily average trading value of 63.96 trillion won ($49 bn) in May, a 46.6% jump from April. The surge lifted the combined Q1 net profit of the country's ten biggest securities firms to 4.33 trillion won ($3.3 bn), prompting analysts...
KOSPI Holds Ground as $35B Foreign Sell‑off Meets $34B ETF‑Driven Domestic Buying
Foreign investors dumped roughly $35 billion of KOSPI shares over 12 trading days, yet the index climbed 4.78% to 7,847.71 points. Domestic retail buying, largely through ETFs, absorbed the supply, highlighting a shift toward passive money in South Korea’s equity market.
Asia Stocks Brace for Volatile Week as Oil, Yields and AI Earnings Loom
Asian equity markets opened the week under pressure from rising oil prices, higher U.S. Treasury yields and a wave of AI‑related earnings. The Nikkei surged 2.68% on Friday while the Hang Seng and Shanghai indices posted modest gains, setting a...
Ahead of Market: 10 Things that Will Decide Stock Market Action on Monday
Indian equity benchmarks edged higher on Friday, with the Nifty closing at 23,719.30 points, just shy of the 23,800 resistance level, while the Sensex rose to 75,415.35. Technical analysts note a flat RSI and a range‑bound pattern, flagging support at...
Sensex Gains 0.31% on Bank Buying as Global Sentiment Improves
The BSE Sensex rose 0.31% to 75,415.35 on Friday, driven by strong buying in ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank. The rally was underpinned by upbeat global cues – easing US‑Iran tensions, Brent crude above $105 per barrel and...
Asian Chip Makers Rise as Nvidia Signals Ongoing AI Demand
Investors pushed Asian semiconductor suppliers higher on Friday after Nvidia highlighted sustained AI demand. Taiwan's TSMC edged up 0.2% after a 3% jump the day before, while Japanese firms such as Murata and SUMCO surged 2%‑7%. Samsung fell 2% amid...
Singapore Reclaims Top Spot as Southeast Asia’s Largest Stock Market
Singapore has regained its position as the largest stock market in Southeast Asia, surpassing Indonesia in total market capitalisation, according to Bloomberg analysis. The shift reflects changing investor sentiment and highlights Singapore’s appeal amid regional competition.
Nifty Stays Range-Bound as Resistance Near 23,800 Caps Upside Move
The Nifty 50 traded within a 542‑point range this week, testing a high of 23,859.90 before slipping to 23,317.10. Volatility eased as the India VIX fell 4.68% to 17.91, and the index closed with a modest 0.32% gain. Technical resistance...
Asian Stocks Surge on US‑Iran Talks and Rising Oil, Nikkei Hits Record
Asian equity markets rallied on Friday as optimism over US‑Iran diplomatic talks and a climb in oil prices boosted sentiment across the region. Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 2.7% to a record 63,339 points, while other major indices posted gains of...
China A‑Shares Rally on Tech Surge as SMIC's $6 B Deal Spurs 4,000‑Stock Gains
China’s mainland markets surged on May 22, with more than 4,000 A‑shares climbing as quantum‑technology and semiconductor concepts led the rally. The Shanghai Composite jumped 0.87%, while SMIC’s approved 40.6 billion‑yuan ($5.98 billion) acquisition of SMNC added further momentum.
South Korean KOSDAQ Jumps 5% on Surge of 45‑Trillion‑Won Policy Fund and National Growth Fund Launch
South Korea’s KOSDAQ rallied nearly 5% on May 22, spurred by expectations of a 45‑trillion‑won policy fund and the sell‑out of the National Participation Growth Fund’s first tranche. The surge triggered a buy‑side circuit breaker for the second day in...
Nikkei Hits Record 63,339 as AI Stocks Surge, Taiwan Index Sets New High
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed at a record 63,339 on May 22, buoyed by AI‑related equities and easing Middle‑East tensions. Taiwan's weighted index also posted a fresh high, though the exact level was not disclosed. The twin milestones highlight the...
Asian Markets Rally 8% on Iran Deal Hopes, Samsung Union Pause, Nvidia Gains
South Korea’s Kospi surged 8.4% and Japan’s Nikkei rose 3.1% on Thursday as optimism over a possible US‑Iran peace accord, a tentative settlement of Samsung Electronics’ labor dispute, and Nvidia’s $81.6 billion quarterly revenue lift buoyed investor sentiment across Asia.
Taiwan Shares Close up 2.18%
Taiwan’s stock market closed higher on May 22, with the Taiwan Weighted Index gaining 899.76 points, or 2.18%, to finish at 42,267.97. The session saw a turnover of NT$1.19 trillion, roughly US$37.4 billion, indicating robust investor activity. Gains were led by technology...
Gift Nifty Surge and US Treasury Yields Steer Indian Market Higher
Gift Nifty futures surged 146 points to 23,815 as US Treasury yields climbed, signaling a positive start for Indian equities. The Nifty 50 closed at 23,659 and the Sensex at 75,318, buoyed by hopes of a US‑Iran diplomatic breakthrough. Analysts...
Samsung Settlement Sparks 8% KOSPI Rally, Boosting Regional Equity Traders
Samsung Electronics reached a last‑minute profit‑sharing agreement with its labor union, sending its shares up 7‑8% and lifting South Korea's KOSPI by roughly 8%. The deal eliminates the threat of an 18‑day chip‑fab strike, a risk that had been depressing...
Semiconductor Stocks Sold in Profit Taking
Asian equities rose on Nvidia’s earnings, boosting AI‑hardware stocks in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, while mainland China indices fell 2‑3% after sharp intra‑day highs. Foreign investors rotated out of Chinese tech heavyweights, selling Tencent (-3.6%) and Alibaba (-4.5%). Domestic investors...
FPIs Exit Korea & Taiwan: Is India Ready for the Flow Rotation?
Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn nearly $23.4 billion from Indian equities this year, citing stretched valuations, a weakening rupee and softer earnings outlooks. At the same time, they pulled $7.8 billion from South Korean stocks and $4.3 billion from Taiwanese equities, marking consecutive...
India's Sensex Gains 117 Points on Late‑Day Buying, Boosting Asian Equity Sentiment
India's BSE Sensex jumped 117.54 points (0.16%) to close at 75,318.39 on Wednesday, driven by late‑day buying and a 2.83% surge in Reliance Industries. The rebound lifted the NSE Nifty and came as the rupee hit a record low near...
KOSPI Slides Toward 7,000 Support as 20‑Day Moving Average Looms
The KOSPI closed at 7,271.66 points, a 3.25% drop, and is closing in on the 7,000 psychological support level and its 20‑day moving average of 7,070.2. Foreign investors have sold a cumulative 42.0 trillion won (≈$32 bn) over nine days, while retail...
JP Morgan Warns FY27 Earnings Risk Could Push India’s Nifty to 20,500 in Bear Case
JP Morgan warned that a prolonged energy and logistics shock linked to the Middle East conflict could depress FY27 corporate earnings in India, pushing the Nifty 50 down to 20,500 in a bear scenario. The brokerage kept a base‑case target of 27,000,...
Jakarta Composite Index Rebounds 0.9% as Investors Eye Prabowo's Economic Speech
Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) jumped 0.86% to 6,425.26 points on Wednesday, reversing a 3% plunge the day before. Traders are watching President Prabowo Subianto’s parliamentary speech for clues on fiscal policy, rupiah support and export controls, while the government...
Seoul Market Bounces Back as Samsung Rallies 3.9% and KOSPI Gains 0.3%
South Korean equities recovered on Monday, with the KOSPI climbing 22.86 points (0.31%) to 7,516.04. The rally was led by a 3.88% surge in Samsung Electronics after a court partially granted its injunction request to block a planned strike, sparking...
South Korean KOSPI Drops over 2% as Inflation Worries, US Tech Slump and Oil Volatility Hit
South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell 166.8 points (2.22%) to 7,349.22 on May 19, spurred by rising inflation concerns, a slump in US tech stocks and volatile oil prices. Foreign investors sold roughly $1.2 billion worth of shares, while domestic chipmakers such...
Nikkei Asia300 Index to Add Aluminum Corp. Of China
Nikkei announced that its Asia300 Investable Index will add 24 stocks, including Aluminum Corp. of China, effective June 1. The index, which tracks 300 leading Asian companies, removes 23 stocks such as India’s Adani Energy Solutions. Selections are based on market...
Indonesia’s Financial Regulator Says Stock Index Reflects Fundamentals After Fall
Indonesia’s stock market index fell more than 3% on Tuesday, extending a 7% decline after MSCI removed over a dozen local companies from its benchmarks. OJK head Friderica Widyasari Dewi said the drop reflects recent market reforms and better price...
Samsung Shares Surge 3.9% After Court Limits Strike, Lifting KOSPI
Samsung Electronics shares jumped 3.88% to 281,000 won ($188) after a Suwon district court partially granted an injunction against labor unions planning a large‑scale strike. The rally helped the KOSPI close up 0.31% at 7,516 points, while investors kept an...
ASX Slides to Seven‑Week Low as Oil Prices Surge Past $110 a Barrel
The S&P/ASX200 dropped 125.5 points, or 1.5%, to 8,505.3 on Monday, its lowest level in seven weeks, as Brent crude surged above $110 a barrel. The slide reflects heightened inflation fears and geopolitical tension in the Middle East, pressuring Australian...
GIFT Nifty Jumps Nearly 1% After Reports of US Relief on Iran Oil Sanctions
GIFT Nifty jumped almost 1% after reports that the United States may grant a temporary waiver on sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports. The prospect of renewed Iranian crude supplies is expected to ease global oil prices, which have been climbing...
AI‑Driven Chip Rally Boosts Australian Tech Funds in April
Australia’s leading technology funds rebounded sharply in April, riding a surge in semiconductor stocks powered by AI spending. The rally delivered bumper returns for growth‑focused funds even as the broader ASX slipped, highlighting a sector‑specific boom in the Asia‑Pacific market.
Samsung, Union Resume Talks After Labor Action Scare; Goldman Says "Korea: Buy"
Samsung Electronics and its labor union resumed high‑stakes negotiations on Monday, averting an imminent 18‑day strike that could have begun Thursday. The talks, spurred by a court order blocking a facility occupation and Samsung’s replacement of its lead negotiator, lifted...
Top Gainers & Losers on May 18: Gland Pharma, Coforge, PB Fintech, BSE, Voltas, Bharti Airtel Among Top Gainers
Indian equities closed marginally in the green on May 18, with the Nifty 50 edging up 0.03% to 23,649 and the BSE Sensex to 75,263. A late‑hour rally in technology and pharma stocks offset weakness in financials, autos and metals. Gland Pharma led...
Taiwan Shares Close Down 0.68%
Taiwan’s weighted stock index closed down 280.54 points, or 0.68%, at 40,891.82 on May 18, 2026. The market saw a total turnover of NT$990.47 billion, roughly US$31.04 billion, indicating robust trading activity despite the dip. The decline extended a short‑term downtrend that...
Global Bond Rout Adds to India Stock Bulls’ Rupee Worries
Indian equities entered the week on shaky ground as the Nifty recorded its worst weekly decline since mid‑March, driven by rising crude prices and a rupee that slipped to another record low. A sharp uptick in global bond yields across...
Gift Nifty Signals Weak Start as Middle East Tensions Rattle Global Market
Indian equities are set for a weak start as the Gift Nifty 23,540 points signaled a gap‑down opening of about 120 points, reflecting heightened geopolitical risk from the US‑Iran conflict. Crude oil prices remain in the $105‑110 per barrel range,...
Asia-Pacific Markets Fall as Trump’s Iran Warning Stokes Fresh Oil Supply Fears
U.S. President Donald Trump’s blunt warning to Iran reignited fears of Middle‑East supply disruptions, pushing Brent crude above $110 a barrel and WTI past $107. The oil rally lifted global energy prices by more than 1%, prompting a sell‑off across...
ASX 200 Energy Stocks Jump 2.7% as Oil Shock Persists, Index Falls 1.3%
Australian energy shares outperformed the broader market, rising 2.66% last week as the global oil shock continued. The S&P/ASX 200, however, fell 1.3% to 8,630.8 points after the federal budget introduced investment‑tax changes that sparked a sharp sell‑off in banking...
India Stocks Slip as US‑Iran Tensions Lift Oil and Rupee Hits Record Low
India's benchmark Sensex and Nifty indices fell 0.21% and 0.19% respectively on Friday, snapping a two‑day rally amid rising crude prices, heightened US‑Iran tensions and a rupee slide to a fresh low of 96 per dollar. The moves have forced...
Rising Global Bond Yields and AI Profit‑Taking Set Tone for China A‑Shares Next Week
Higher U.S. Treasury yields and a sharp pull‑back in AI‑focused stocks are shaping expectations for China’s A‑share market next week. Analysts forecast heightened volatility with a tentative rebound from May 18‑19, while a breakout on ChiNext, led by Zhongji Xuchuang,...
KOSPI Volatility Soars After 8,000 Breach, Retail Debt Fuels Risky Rally
On May 15 the KOSPI breached the 8,000‑point barrier before sliding more than 6% to close at 7,493.18. The rally was powered by retail investors borrowing heavily to buy stocks, prompting analysts to warn of a near‑term correction.
Mcap of Nine of Top 10 Valued Firms Erodes by ₹3.12 Lakh Crore; Reliance Biggest Laggard
India’s market capitalization for nine of the ten most valuable companies shrank by roughly ₹3.12 lakh crore (about $37 billion) last week, led by a steep decline at Reliance Industries. The BSE Sensex fell 2,090 points (‑2.7%) and the NSE Nifty slipped 532...