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.
Manulife Launches New Equity Income and Growth Strategy Under EQDP
Manulife Investments has launched the Singapore Opportunities Income Strategy under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Equity Market Development Programme. The fund will invest exclusively in Singapore‑listed equities, emphasizing small and mid‑cap stocks where research coverage is thin and valuation gaps persist. It seeks a balanced income‑and‑growth profile by combining dividend yields with disciplined profit‑taking and long‑term capital appreciation. Although benchmarked to the FTSE ST All‑Share Index, the portfolio will be conviction‑led, holding 30‑50 high‑conviction positions.
Tanco Invests P1.04 Billion More in DigiPlus
Tycoon Eusebio Tanco invested an additional P1.04 billion in DigiPlus Interactive Corp., buying 63.12 million shares (1.4% of outstanding equity) at P16.40 per share. The purchase raises his direct holdings to 10.43 million shares and indirect holdings to 712.62 million shares, underscoring strong confidence...
Risk Off Rules The Day
Attacks in Iran and retaliatory strikes across the Middle East sparked a classic risk‑off rally, pushing the U.S. dollar higher and dragging most Asian equity markets lower, with the notable exception of commodity‑heavy Australia. Hong Kong’s benchmark indices fell sharply, while...
Broker’s Call: Jindal Stainless (Buy)
Anand Rathi Research upgrades Jindal Stainless (JDSL) to BUY with a target price of ₹940, up from ₹900, as the stock trades at ₹782.90. The firm projects a V‑shaped volume growth, rising 9% YoY in FY26, moderating to 6% in...
Three Indian Stocks Poised to Profit
India’s economy is modernising rapidly, creating a fertile backdrop for mid‑cap equities. The India Capital Growth Fund highlights three stocks positioned to capture this wave: Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), which benefits from a deepening commodity market; Aether Industries, a niche...
Nifty Faces Critical 25108 Island Gap Resistance
Nifty may form an island reversal - What is that, you ask? When prices gap up and then gap down, leaving a zone with no trading, it is called an island gap. The price action left behind above the gap...
Foreign Investors Trigger Record South Korean Stock Selloff
🚨Has the South Korean market gone TOO FAR? Foreign investors dumped a record 6.8 trillion won ($4.7 billion) of South Korean stocks on Friday, the largest single-day selloff EVER.👇 https://globalmarketsinvestor.beehiiv.com/p/us-stocks-dropped-amid-rising-ai-and-geopolitical-uncertainty-weekly-market-recap-trading-week-09-20
CIMB Upgrades ViTrox to 'Buy', TP Raised to RM5.90
CIMB Securities upgraded ViTrox Corp Bhd to a Buy, raising its target price to RM5.90 on stronger earnings outlook. The broker lifted FY26 and FY27 EPS forecasts by up to 15% after noting higher shipment volumes in the MVST and...
Pakistan Bourse Resumes Trading After Record Fall Triggered Halt
Pakistan’s benchmark KSE‑30 index suffered a record intraday plunge, sinking 9.8% before trimming losses to 7.3% after an hour‑long trading halt. The sharp drop was sparked by heightened geopolitical tension after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran....
L1 Group's Cost Cuts and Fund Surge Boost Appeal
A rare post about an Australian stock: L1 Group (L1G-ASX) which reverse-acquired my former employer last year, looks interesting. The stock is not optically cheap, but when you look at... 1. The run-rate cost savings (guiding to $30-$35m, ~75% of...
Memory Chip Prices Surge, Burden Downstream Industries
The price of memory chips continues to rise and is being passed on to downstream industries. National Development and Reform Commission https://t.co/Jjf9lb8DTz
HAL, BDL, Other Defence Stocks in Focus as War in Middle East Escalates; What to Expect?
Indian defence stocks rallied as Middle East tensions rose after Iran's Supreme Leader was killed. HAL and BDL saw modest gains despite year‑to‑date declines of over 11% and 15% respectively. The recent India‑Israel defence pact and Prime Minister Modi’s visit...
Shanghai Market Posts Another Monthly Gain, Stays Under December Peak
Chinese Shanghai stock market... monthly chart... another up month, though still below December highs... https://t.co/1tVC6QTIDO
China’s Two Sessions Reveal Economic Outlook Amid High Stakes
China’s ‘Two Sessions’ to Shed Light on What Lies Ahead for Economy—Beijing’s target-setting takes place against a high-stakes backdrop https://t.co/sxAHsLFpcV https://t.co/sxAHsLFpcV
SET Index Falls on Iran-US Conflict
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) opened down 1.73% to 1,501.78 as investors reacted to the Iran‑US conflict. Energy‑linked shares such as PTTEP and PTT rose, while non‑energy stocks like Gulf Energy, Bumrungrad Hospital and Airports of Thailand fell sharply....
Toyota Raises TOB Price, yet Governance Remains Disappointing
Toyota Asset Preparatory Co announced it had lifted the TOB Price for Toyota Industries to from ¥18,800 to a best and final ¥20,600. Elliott agreed to tender. They made big money, but this is still a really disappointing outcome for...
Indian Leveraged Futures Likely to Be Squashed Before Holi
Logically, if the war is not over, Indians with leveraged stock futures positions and MTF positions will not hold onto them into a Holi Holiday tomorrow - expect a lot of squaring up in the second half of the day....
UnionBank Profit Dropped to P10B in 2025
UnionBank of the Philippines reported a 17% drop in net income for 2025, posting P10 billion versus P12 billion the prior year. Despite the profit dip, net revenues climbed to P83.2 billion, driven by robust loan growth and higher transaction volumes. The bank’s...
Markets Down Only 1%—Surprisingly Resilient
Markets aren't too bad this far. Just 1% down on an event like this almost seems like a positive :)
Japanese Investment in China Jumps 55% Amid Tensions
“At a time when Tokyo and Beijing appear to be drifting further apart politically, Japanese capital is moving in the opposite direction…Japanese foreign direct investment into China surged by 55.5% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025.” https://t.co/osyTCAOqOp
SEBI Not in Favour of SME IPO Curbs that May ‘Scare’ Away Issuers
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signaled it will not impose sweeping curbs on SME IPOs, preferring targeted oversight instead. Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasized stronger due‑diligence, site visits and third‑party monitoring to hold merchant bankers accountable. Recent...
PETER’S ASIAN BUSINESS & FINANCE BRIEFING – Monday 2 March 2026, 06:00 Hong Kong
Over the weekend, coordinated US and Israeli strikes hit Iran, prompting missile and drone retaliation that shut Dubai’s airport and threatened oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict pushed Brent crude toward $73 a barrel and heightened geopolitical...
Cabinet Clears IIFCL's IPO Plans, Says MD Rohit Rishi
The Indian cabinet’s Economic Affairs Committee has cleared the initial public offering of India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL), a fully government‑owned NBFC‑ND‑IFC. The approval aligns with the Budget 2026‑27 emphasis on disinvestment and capital‑market listings for public‑sector entities. IIFCL...
War-Driven Correction: Is India's Market Already Priced In?
Friday's closing correction was also on the basis of war. So, what do you think? How much will fall tomorrow? Or has the war's impact already been discounted in the Indian stock market?
Asia Signals Risk Aversion; Oil and Gold Poised Higher
Early market signals Monday in Asia: risk aversion & flight to safe havens, stocks set to open down. Oil and gold come online in 20 minutes, both will see substantial upside. Update then https://t.co/IwRjfptbHJ
Liquidity and Capital – Institutional Participation Continues to Broaden Across SGX
Singapore Exchange’s listed equities posted an average daily turnover of S$1.7 billion in the first two months of 2026, reflecting heightened market activity. Institutional investors were net buyers in industrials, technology, materials and other sectors, while retail investors favored financial services,...
Dubai's Woes Ripple Into India’s $45 Bn Remittances
Problems in Dubai are not just for people staying there - it spills over to India - we get $45 bn of remittances from the Middle East each year.
Monday Marks Final Day of Tender Offer
Re-upping this. Monday is the last day of the current tender offer. Maybe I'll put out an English version, but it's in my Cui Bono piece on Smartkarma last week.
NSE Shares Won't List on NSE; IPO to Be Entirely OFS, Says CEO Ashish Chauhan
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) will not list its shares on its own platform when it goes public, citing Indian regulations that prohibit self‑listing. Instead, the IPO will be conducted as an Offer for Sale (OFS), allowing existing...
Higher F&O Taxes Won’t Deter Small Investors, Says NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan; Calls for Tax-Based Entry Filter
NSE Managing Director Ashish Chauhan argued that recent hikes in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) will not discourage retail participation in futures‑and‑options (F&O) trading. He suggested that eligibility for derivatives should be tied to an investor’s tax‑paying capacity, proposing a minimum...
China's 2025 Economy: Hot Sectors Stuck Amid Cooling
“The Chinese economy in 2025…is like a giant machine where large parts are beginning to cool down, while a considerable part remains at high temperature. But the temperature of this part is difficult to conduct to the cooling parts.” @ChinaFile https://t.co/oC1Pwzm8je
Portfolio Gains 6.8% on Korean Surge, Eye Japan SaaS
The portfolio's value rose by +6.8% in February 2026, driven by a skyrocketing Korean stock market. Opportunities in Japan SaaS and luxury wristwatches. https://t.co/dYm3oOEyPD
Exports Jump 29 Pct to Record Feb. High on Surging Chip Demand
South Korea’s exports surged 29% year‑over‑year in February, hitting a record high. The jump was driven primarily by a sharp rebound in semiconductor shipments as global chip demand accelerated. The trade surplus expanded sharply, reinforcing the country’s position as a...
China Aims 5% Growth; Consumption, Innovation to Drive 2026
China Daily: “Around 5% seen as likely GDP target—Consumption, innovation expected to emerge as key economic engines in 2026” https://t.co/mvmKY53AFy
Thai Gold-Trading Curbs Take Effect as Authorities Rein in Baht
Thailand's central bank introduced strict retail gold‑trading limits effective March 1, 2026. Individuals can now trade up to 50 million baht per day on each online platform, aiming to dampen speculative buying that has lifted the baht. The cap excludes USD‑denominated...
BofA: Slowing Demand to Hit Philippines Growth
Bank of America projects Philippine GDP growth at 4.6% in 2026 and 5.0% in 2027, falling short of the economy’s 5.5‑6.5% sustainable range. The slowdown is driven by weak household consumption, softer private investment and a tapering of government disbursements...
BSP Flags Faster Inflation in February
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) projects February inflation to rise to between 2.3% and 3.1%, up from January’s 2% rate. Higher rice and fish prices, elevated petroleum costs and increased Meralco electricity charges are the main upward pressures, while...
NFTY: Comparatively Better, Structurally Weak
The First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF (NFTY) provides U.S. investors with an equal‑weight exposure to the Nifty 50 constituents, but its performance is hampered by a weakening Indian rupee. Over the past two decades the equal‑weight index has generated...
Shift to GARP and Solid Balance Sheets Now
This chart is a classic, but let’s move that "We Are Here" pin 📍 Where would you say we are in the cycle right now? The Early-Cycle easy gains are over, I think. It's time to focus on GARP (Growth at a...
FIIs Pour Rs 22,615 Crore Into Indian Equities in February. Can Iran-Israel Conflict Flip the Trend?
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net buyers in February, pouring Rs 22,615 crore into Indian equities, with Rs 19,782 crore going to secondary markets and Rs 2,832 crore to primary issues. However, a sharp sell‑off on February 28 saw FIIs dump Rs 7,536 crore, dragging the Nifty and Sensex...
Vanguard’s India Portfolio Shines: 12 Stocks Rally up to 120% in FY26, 8 Fresh Q3 Picks
Vanguard Fund’s India portfolio surged, now valued at ₹69,100 crore, a 60% jump from the March quarter. The fund holds stakes in 48 BSE‑listed companies, placing it among the top three active foreign institutional investors in the country. Twelve of its...
LT Group Books 4th Straight Record Earnings in 2025 at P31B
LT Group Inc. reported a record P30.98 billion net income for 2025, a 7 percent increase over 2024, marking its fourth consecutive year of record earnings. Philippine National Bank drove nearly half of the profit, contributing P14.26 billion as its net income rose...
Japan's Consumption Tax Suspension May Not Result in Lower Food Prices
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to suspend Japan’s 8 percent consumption tax on food for two years to ease inflation pressures. The proposal meets skepticism from economists and small‑business groups who argue the cut may not translate into lower retail prices....
The Head Fake: Buying the Chinese Stocks Post-Ruling Dip
The U.S. Supreme Court’s February 20 decision struck down IEEPA‑based tariffs, removing the worst‑case tariff risk for Chinese e‑commerce firms. The market’s initial rally faded as investors fretted over a possible 15% global tariff, creating a temporary dip in Alibaba...
Bull Market Over: Avoid Dips, Stay Hedged
The Bull Market has ended - Do not buy the Dip - HDFC Bank vs SBI - Gold... https://t.co/bamrgqUR9n via @YouTube The Nifty broke key levels this week, further confirming the bearish case. We will go level by level and...
US Markets Regulator SEC Announces New Insider Trading Rules for Foreign Companies
The SEC announced new insider‑trade reporting rules for foreign private issuers, requiring executives to disclose purchases or sales within two business days, effective March 18, 2026. The mandate aligns foreign executive reporting with U.S. standards and fulfills a 2025 congressional...
FIIs Sell for 8th Month; Markets Driven Elsewhere
As the final data for the month flows in, FIIs ended up being sellers in FEB [nse data]. So much for all the talk of FIIs returning. This is now the 8th month of outflows. Do not read too much...
Only 35 of 198 Indian IPOs Prove Winners
2 years, 198 IPOs, just 35 winners: The brutal math of India’s IPO boom https://t.co/Q7NlR0Lbzw Download Economic Times App to stay updated with Business News - https://t.co/3wu61tGNFD
Nifty Falls 0.6% in Feb, Continuing Weak Start Trend
The Nifty does a -0.6% in Feb, maintaining the tradition of bad Jan+Feb in four of the last five years. https://t.co/V0aQo9OYRS
Tencent Embeds AI in Group Chats for Real-Time Fact‑checking
“Tencent is betting that AI spreads best when it rides on social habits, rather than treated as yet another ‘productivity’ app…Yuanbao is less a chatbot tab than an extra voice in the group chat: the friend you can @ to...