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.
Nifty's 23,600 Line in the Sand: Why Missing This Level Could Pull the Index to 22,800
Geojit strategist Anand James flags the 23,600 level as a decisive pivot for the Nifty after a sharp profit‑booking rally. The index slipped more than 2% to find support near 23,260, and a break below 23,600 could open a path toward 22,800. Technical signals are mixed: IT stocks are down 6%, oscillators remain overbought, and derivative positioning shows a near‑term pullback bias. Despite the caution, KPRMILL and REFEX present bullish setups for the coming week.
Analysts Flag US-Iran Conflict, Crude Prices as Key Market Triggers This Week
Analysts say the escalating US‑Iran conflict and rising Brent crude, now above $109 a barrel, will dominate Indian market sentiment this week. The rupee breached the 96 per USD threshold, adding currency stress amid inflation worries. Investors will also watch foreign‑institutional...
Taiwan Index Plunges ~1,400 Points as Active ETFs Trigger Massive Rebalancing
On May 15, Taiwan's main equity index fell almost 1,400 points after active exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) aggressively sold high‑valuation AI and optics stocks. Analysts say the move was a performance‑driven rotation, not a loss of confidence in ETFs, and that...
Nikkei 225 Slides 2% as Tech Sell‑Off Meets Fresh Taiwan Tensions
Japan's Nikkei 225 closed at 61,409.29, down 1.99%, as a technology‑driven correction and renewed Taiwan‑related geopolitical risk erased the week’s gains. The slide highlighted vulnerability in semiconductor stocks and revived concerns over Bank of Japan policy.
Asian Equities Mixed as US Rally Lifts Markets Amid Iran War Concerns
Asian shares traded mixed on Tuesday after a record rally on Wall Street lifted regional sentiment. The gains were offset by rising oil prices and heightened anxiety over a possible Iran‑Israel conflict, leaving investors torn between optimism and caution.
Indian Equities Hold Steady as Oil Prices Surge and Global Cues Stay Mixed
India's benchmark indices barely budged on Tuesday, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex trading within a narrow band as higher crude oil prices and divergent global market signals weighed on sentiment. Foreign Institutional Investors dumped roughly $25 billion of equities, yet...
Asian Markets Split as Trump‑Xi Summit Fails to Spark Broad Gains
Asian equities diverged on Thursday after President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.7% while Shanghai's Composite fell 0.9%, reflecting investors' cautious optimism amid modest summit signals and persistent inflation worries.
India’s Sensex Jumps 451 Points as IT Stocks Lead 0.6% Rally
The BSE Sensex surged 451.46 points to 75,850.18 and the NSE Nifty rose 143.25 points to 23,832.85, driven by strong buying in Infosys, TCS, HCL and other IT names. Foreign and domestic institutional investors added roughly $105 million combined, offsetting a...
Kospi Breaks 8,000 Amid AI Surge and Trump‑Xi Summit Hopes
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi surged past the 8,000‑point barrier, peaking at 8,046.78, driven by a wave of artificial‑intelligence stocks and optimism around President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The rally was tempered later in the session, but...
KOSPI Still up 78% YTD Despite 6% Drop
Korean stocks fell 6% last night. So now the KOSPI is only up 78% YTD
KOSPI Slides 6% After Brief 8,000‑Point Surge, Large‑Cap Tech Hit Hard
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI plunged 6.12% (488.23 points) to 7,493.18 on Friday, erasing a brief surge past the 8,000‑point mark. The sell‑off was led by foreign investors unloading large‑cap semiconductor and technology shares, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The...
Marco Polo Marine Posts 40% Revenue Jump, H1 Profit Climbs to S$11.6 Million
Marco Polo Marine Ltd (5LY.SI) announced first‑half earnings of S$11.63 million profit, up 9% year‑on‑year, and revenue of S$73.99 million, a 40.4% surge. The results lifted the stock and underscored strong demand in Asia’s maritime sector.
Can Samsung and SK Hynix Keep Supporting KOSPI’s Explosive Rise?
The KOSPI has surged over 200% this year, propelled by an AI‑driven rally that has turned Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix into near‑$1 trillion giants. Together they contributed roughly 40% of the index’s 2025 gains and now account for about half of...
Asian Stocks Split as Trump‑Xi Summit Fuels Commodity Rally and Tech Optimism
Asian equity markets ended the day mixed after President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for a three‑day summit with President Xi Jinping. Oil prices edged higher on supply worries, while Chinese chip exports jumped 84% YoY, boosting tech‑linked shares across...
Top Gainers & Losers on May 14: NLC India, Cipla, Bharti Airtel, Vedanta, MCX, BSE, Berger Paints Among Top Gainers
Indian equities rebounded on May 14, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex each posting gains above 1% as pharma and metal stocks led the charge. NLC India surged 14% to ₹371 (~$4.5) and Cipla rose 8.2% to ₹1,436 (~$17), while Kaynes Technology...
Crude@$100+: A Power Boom You Might Be Missing
India’s power and energy sector has seen a massive rally as Brent crude stays above $100 per barrel, adding roughly $36 bn (Rs 3 lakh crore) to the market‑capitalisation of Nifty Energy stocks since the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict began. Foreign institutional investors poured about $670 m...
KOSPI Slides 2% as Samsung and SK Hynix Tumble on US Semiconductor Weakness
The KOSPI slipped 2.02% to 7,488.46 points on May 13, pulled down by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix after a slump in US semiconductor stocks and a breakdown in Samsung's labor talks. Foreign investors sold roughly $792 million worth of Korean...
Nikkei Hits Record High Above 63,000 on Strong Earnings
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 surged to a fresh all‑time high of 63,272.11, a 0.84% gain, after a wave of better‑than‑expected earnings. The rally was led by non‑ferrous metals, wholesale trade and transportation equipment, while investors broadened their bets beyond tech.
Ahead of Market: 10 Things that Will Decide Stock Market Action on Thursday
India’s equity benchmarks halted a four‑day slide on Wednesday, with the Nifty nudging up 0.14% to 23,412.60 and the Sensex gaining 0.07% to 74,608.98. Gains were led by metal, energy and consumer stocks, while the India VIX slipped 3.9% to...
Indian Sensex, Nifty Open Flat as Oil Prices Dip and Global Cues Mix
The BSE Sensex rose 0.34% to 74,809.68 points and the NSE Nifty 50 gained 0.34% to 23,460.20 on Wednesday, snapping two days of steep declines. Lower Brent crude at $106.5 a barrel and mixed global cues helped steady the market,...
MSCI to Cut some of Indonesia’s Biggest Companies From Global Indices
MSCI announced it will remove several of Indonesia’s largest publicly listed firms from its global equity indices, including the MSCI Emerging Markets and MSCI ACWI indexes. The move follows a review that flagged governance concerns, reduced free‑float, and liquidity shortfalls...
Asian Stocks Rise 0.3% Amid AI Optimism as Oil Surges Above $98
Asian markets edged higher, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index up 0.3% as investors bet on AI‑driven earnings growth. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate crude held above $98 a barrel, stoking concerns over higher Treasury yields and a...
Taiwan’s TAIEX Hits Record High of 42,028 on Tech Surge
The TAIEX surged 238 points (0.6%) to 42,028 on Tuesday, marking a new all‑time high driven by strong earnings and AI‑related demand for technology firms. The rally was led by technology services, Wiwynn Corp and International Games, while the broader...
Indian Markets Lose Over ₹8 Lakh Crore in Two Days
On May 11, Sensex dropped 1,313 pts (1.7%) to 76,015 Nifty fell 360 pts (1.49%) to 23,816 amid global tensions and risk-off selling. Reports show ~₹6.4-8.9 lakh crore erased from BSE market cap that day alone. Cumulative over the...
Can Japanese Stocks Keep Running After Hitting Historic Highs?
Japan’s equity market has surged, with the Nikkei 225 up more than 20% year‑to‑date and 66% over the past 12 months, reaching levels 150% above its 1989 peak. ClearBridge’s Grace Su attributes the rally to a strong AI‑driven demand for Japanese...
Gold, Housing Plays Take a Hit as Modi's Austerity Pitch Rattles Consumer-Facing Stocks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged a year of financial restraint, telling Indians to delay gold purchases and cut discretionary travel. The remarks triggered a sharp sell‑off in consumer‑facing stocks, with jewellery makers like Titan, Kalyan Jewellers and Senco Gold falling...
Top Gainers & Losers on May 12: Kalyan Jewellers, Adani Power, Anant Raj, Tata Motors, BEML, UPL Among Top Losers
Indian equities slumped on May 12 as oil‑price fears, Iran‑US tensions and a weakening rupee drove the Nifty 50 down 1.83% to 23,379, breaking the 24,000 psychological barrier. Jewellery, technology and EV stocks led the sell‑off, with Kalyan Jewellers falling to ₹361.80 (≈$4.35)...
Does PM Narendra Modi’s Speech Signal Interest Rate Hike in the Next RBI MPC Meeting?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged tighter control of gold, fuel, fertilizer imports and reduced overseas travel to safeguard India’s foreign‑exchange reserves amid the US‑Iran conflict. The call sparked a sell‑off in equities as investors feared domestic economic strain, while crude...
Korean Politician Pops the Chip Vibe. Sterling Under Pressure.
The Saxo Market Call highlighted a shift in market sentiment driven by political risk in the UK and policy talk in South Korea, putting pressure on the British pound and creating volatility in Korean chip stocks like SK Hynix and...
Record Margin Debt Yet Bullish on Chinese Stocks
According to Bloomberg, margin debt lending in China jumped to a record 2.8 trillion yuan on Monday, extending gains into a fourth session. Risk is rising, but I continue to expect that Chinese stocks will do well over the rest...
Kuaishou to Spin Off AI Unit, Targeting $20B Valuation
China’s Kuaishou Plans Spinoff of AI Unit That Could Be Valued at $20 Billion—Kuaishou aims to list Kling in Hong Kong next year, said people familiar with the matter @raffaelehuang @Tracyyyqu https://t.co/mx6fvVNZN6 https://t.co/mx6fvVNZN6
South Korea Roils Market by Floating ‘Citizen Dividend’ From AI Gains
South Korean policy chief Kim Yong‑beom suggested a citizen dividend financed by taxes on AI‑related profits, prompting a sharp 5.1% drop in the Kospi before the index recovered as he clarified the plan would use excess tax revenue rather than...
Taiwan Shares Close up 0.26%
Taiwan's main equity index closed higher on May 12, gaining 108.26 points, or 0.26%, to finish at 41,898.32. The session saw a robust turnover of NT$1.38 trillion, roughly US$43.4 billion, indicating solid market activity. The modest rise came amid a broader regional...
Asian Shares Trade Mixed After Wall Street Rally Despite Iran War Worries
Asian equity markets showed mixed performance on Tuesday as a record rally on Wall Street lifted sentiment, while rising oil prices and AI‑related concerns weighed on regional indices. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.7% to 62,881, but South Korea's Kospi fell...
Asia Wrap: The Korean Tax Man Arrives as South Korea’s AI Dividend Dream Saps the Kospi Party
South Korean officials floated an "AI dividend" funded by taxes on the country’s artificial‑intelligence windfall, sparking a sharp sell‑off that saw the Kospi tumble more than 5% before stabilising. The episode highlighted a new political risk to the AI‑driven equity...
Indian Rupee Hits Record Low of 95.31 per Dollar Amid Market Turmoil
On May 11, 2026 the Indian rupee fell 82 paise to close at a historic 95.31 per U.S. dollar, its weakest level since the currency was introduced. The plunge was driven by a mix of domestic fiscal strain, widening current‑account deficits...
Nikkei 225 Hits Record Intraday High, Then Slides on Profit‑Taking
The Nikkei 225 jumped more than 650 points, about 1%, to a new intraday peak in early Monday trading before giving back gains as investors took profits. Semiconductor stocks led the rally, while renewed Middle East concerns sparked the sell‑off.
Bears Tighten Grip on D-Street as GIFT Nifty Points to Weak Opening
Indian equities slipped about 1.5% on Monday as the failure of U.S.-Iran peace talks rattled global sentiment. Foreign portfolio investors net bought roughly ₹8,437 crore (≈$1 bn) while domestic institutional investors added about ₹5,939 crore (≈$715 m). The India VIX surged 10% to 18.5,...
Oil Shock Rattles D-Street as Rupee Hits Record Low
India’s equity markets slumped on Monday as Brent crude breached $104 per barrel, pushing the rupee to a record closing low of 95.31 per dollar. The Nifty 50 fell 1.5% to 23,815.85, breaking the 24,000 support, while the Sensex dropped 1.7%...
AI‑Driven Rally Boosts China and Taiwan Stocks as Japan Slides
AI enthusiasm propelled the Shanghai and Shenzhen indices up more than 1% and lifted Taiwan's market, while Japan's Nikkei fell 0.47% amid high oil prices and earnings concerns. The split reflects how AI demand is reshaping Asian equity flows.
STARTS Corp Posts 4% Profit Rise on B2B Manufacturing Wins
STARTS Corp reported a full‑year profit of ¥25.311 bn, up 4% from the prior year, as revenue rose 8.1% to ¥251.911 bn. The gains stem from expanded B2B manufacturing solutions and a refreshed go‑to‑market strategy that secured larger enterprise contracts.
South Korea’s Kospi Sets New Record as Oil Prices Surge Amid Iran‑U.S. Tensions
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi opened 3.67% higher to a fresh all‑time high, buoyed by a jump in Brent crude to $105.7 per barrel. The rally unfolded as President Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s latest peace proposal, reviving geopolitical risk premia across...
India's Sensex Plummets, ₹
Indian stock market witnessed a massive crash today,Black Monday: ₹6.4 Lakh Crore Wiped Out as Sensex Tanks 1,313 Points.
China’s Biggest Week Kicks Off
Asian equities showed mixed performance as Middle East tensions rose, while AI‑driven hardware demand boosted semiconductor and chip stocks across South Korea, Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong. The renminbi firmed, ending the session below 6.80 per dollar, and China...
India's Sensex Drops 1,082 Points as Oil Prices Surge and Modi Calls for Austerity
The BSE Sensex slid 1,082 points (about $13.2 bn) and the NSE Nifty fell 309 points as Brent crude breached $105 per barrel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to curb fuel, gold and foreign travel. The sell‑off erased roughly...
TMTB Morning Wrap
Intel announced a joint R&D effort with SK Hynix to develop 2.5D packaging using Intel’s EMIB technology, aiming to integrate high‑bandwidth memory with system‑on‑chip components. The initiative responds to TSMC’s supply bottleneck on its CoWoS 2.5D process, which is straining...
Lotte Chemical Posts Q1 Profit as Sales Rise 1.8%
Lotte Chemical Corp. reported a net attributable profit of KRW 49.59 billion in Q1 2026, reversing a KRW 190.83 billion loss from a year earlier. Sales climbed 1.8% to KRW 4.99 trillion and the shares jumped 6.6% on the Korea Stock Exchange.
Bursa Malaysia Slides 0.16% as AI‑fuelled Rally Lifts Regional Peers
Bursa Malaysia's benchmark FBM KLCI slipped 0.16% to 1,745.31 on Monday, bucking a regional surge driven by AI‑related stocks and higher oil prices. Glove makers such as Top Glove helped soften the decline, but overall market breadth was thin, with...
PSEi up on Cautious Bargain-Hunting
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed 0.43% to 5,986.85 on May 11, driven by bargain‑hunting after first‑quarter earnings releases. Property stocks led the gains while conglomerates and miners lagged, and trading volume was thin—about 1.28 billion shares worth roughly $99 million. In...
Hyundai Shares Jump 5% Despite 22% YoY Fall in Q4 Net Profit to Rs 1,256 Crore
Hyundai Motor India’s shares jumped about 5% even though Q4 FY26 net profit fell 22% to Rs 1,256 crore (≈$151 million). Revenue rose more than 5% to Rs 18,916 crore (≈$228 million) and the board proposed a Rs 21 per‑share dividend (≈$0.25). Brokerages kept "Buy" ratings, with...