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.
Japan Services PMI Hits 11-Month Low in April. War Costs Bite, Input Costs 42-Month High
Japan's services PMI slipped to 51.0 in April, the weakest expansion in 11 months but still above the 50‑point growth threshold. Input prices surged at the fastest pace in a year, driven largely by fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict, while output prices rose at the third‑steepest rate since 2007. New export orders fell for the first time in five months, dragging overall business confidence to its lowest level since the pandemic. The composite PMI output index eased to 52.2, the softest reading of 2026.
Asian Emerging‑Market Stocks Hit Record High on Iran Peace Hopes and AI Boom
Asian emerging‑market equities jumped to an all‑time high, with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index up 3.1% to about 1,700 points. The rally was driven by growing optimism over a possible US‑Iran peace settlement and a parallel AI‑driven semiconductor boom that...
Ringgit Gains to 3.92/USD Ahead of Bank Negara’s OPR Decision
The Malaysian ringgit strengthened to 3.9230‑3.9275 per US dollar on Thursday, buoyed by falling oil prices and a softer US dollar index. Traders are eyeing Bank Negara Malaysia’s overnight policy rate (OPR) meeting, where the rate is widely expected to...
The Year’s Best Tech Trade Is Hiding in Plain Sight — and No, It’s Not the Nasdaq
South Korea’s KOSPI has surged 75% in U.S.‑dollar terms through early May, dwarfing the Nasdaq’s roughly 11% gain. The rally is driven by the country’s AI‑focused chipmakers, especially Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which dominate the high‑bandwidth memory market. A...
Bajaj Auto Beats Q4 Estimates and Launches $595 M Record Share Buyback
Bajaj Auto reported quarterly earnings above analyst forecasts and unveiled a 56.33 bn‑rupee ($595 M) share buyback at a 16.3% premium. The earnings surge was driven by premium bike sales, margin expansion and a recent tax cut on 350 cc motorcycles.
India’s Equity Markets Face $39 Bn FII Outflow as BlackRock Stays Overweight
Foreign institutional investors have withdrawn $39 bn from Indian equities since early 2025, yet BlackRock’s Ben Powell remains overweight on India, citing lower valuations. Domestic investors now own a record 20.9% of Nifty‑500 stocks, reshaping market dynamics.
Singapore STI Nudges up 0.1% as Regional Rally Lifts Markets
Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) edged higher by 0.1% to 4,927.38 on May 6, echoing gains in Hong Kong and South Korea. The lift was driven by modest advances in the three local banks and a sharp jump in...
Be in the Know. 16 Key Reads for Thursday…
A curated roundup of 16 market‑moving stories highlights Alibaba’s chip‑driven share surge, a rebound in Chinese consumer spending, and a rally in emerging‑market equities that outpaces the S&P 500. The list also flags Disney’s push toward a “super app,” strong...
Sensex Today | Stock Market Highlights: Stock Markets End Lower in Choppy Trade; Sensex Declines 114 Points
Indian equities traded volatile on May 7, 2026, with the Sensex slipping to 77,942 points (down 16 points) while the Nifty edged up to 24,361 points (+31). The modest rally was buoyed by a sharp drop in crude oil to $8,765 per...
Thai Markets Weathering Middle East Turmoil
Moody’s upgraded its outlook on Thailand, placing the country with four other emerging markets that can weather global shocks. The rating highlights strong bank liquidity, robust international reserves and improved policy frameworks. Despite a ten‑week Middle East conflict, the Stock...
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Hits Record High on US-Iran Deal Hopes; SoftBank, Seiko Epson Lead the Rally
Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 5.58% on May 7, closing at a record 62,834 as investors cheered optimism over a looming U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding and robust technology earnings. SoftBank Group led the rally, jumping 18.44%, while semiconductor and AI‑related stocks such...
Top Gainers & Losers on May 7: Godrej Industries, Tejas Networks, Paytm, Polycab, BHEL, HFCL Among Top Gainers
Indian equities closed flat on May 7 as the Nifty 50 and Sensex gave up early gains, while mid‑cap and small‑cap indices rose 1% and 0.8% respectively. Earnings beats propelled several stocks—Godrej Industries hit its 20% upper‑circuit limit, Tejas Networks jumped 14.7%,...
Stock Market Today: Sensex Falls 114 Points, Nifty 50 Ends Above 24,300; Mid, Small-Cap Indices Jump 1%
India's benchmarks closed lower on Thursday, with the Sensex slipping 114 points (0.15%) to 77,844.52 and the Nifty 50 easing 4 points (0.02%) to 24,326.65. The decline was driven by profit‑booking in heavyweight names such as HUL, TCS, ITC and Reliance,...
Chip Stock Boom
The episode focuses on the ongoing AI-driven chip stock boom, highlighted by massive gains in Asian markets such as Japan's Nikkei (+6%) and South Korea's KOSPI, with SoftBank and Samsung leading the surge. While a one‑page U.S. proposal to end...
Public Bank Leads Malaysian Banking Rally, Earnings Outlook Strong
Malaysian banks up today. Seeing plenty of buying interest. Financial Service index highest since end-March. All banks still below pre-War level (except AM). Best performer is Public Bank +3% to RM4.94, highest in almost 2 months. •1Q earnings release on 12...
Nifty 50 Poised to Breach 25,000 Amid Easing Tensions
Nifty 50 is showing strong resilience, bouncing back from key support levels as geopolitical tensions ease. With a potential US-Iran peace deal on the horizon, cooling oil prices, could we see the index hit the 25,000 mark this month? Read...
HFCL Shares Surge 37% in 5 Sessions, Nearly Double in a Month
HFCL’s shares surged 37% over five trading sessions, lifting the stock nearly 98% in the past month and pushing it to a 52‑week high. The rally was sparked by a sharp earnings turnaround—Q4 FY26 net profit of $21.5 million versus a...
Nikkei Surpasses 63,000, Sets New All‑Time High
🇯🇵 Japan’s Nikkei just hit a new all-time high. The index broke above 63,000 for the first time ever. https://t.co/iZv3bvd1ql
Tokyo Leads Asia Stock Surge on Mideast Peace Hopes
Asian equities surged on Thursday, led by Japan’s Nikkei jumping 5.7% to 62,916 as investors cheered President Donald Trump’s claim that a U.S.-Iran agreement was imminent. The optimism lifted oil prices, which had fallen about 10% over the prior two...
SoftBank Surges 16% Amid Japan Tech Rally
JUST IN: SoftBank shares rise over 16% as a Japan tech stock rally drives the Nikkei 225 to record highs.
Japan’s Nikkei Roars Past 62,000 on Earnings, Middle East Optimism; JGBs Rally
Japan’s Nikkei 225 leapt 4.19% to 62,010 on Thursday, breaking the 62,000 threshold for the first time. The rally was powered by strong earnings from technology firms, especially chip makers buoyed by AMD’s upbeat AI forecast. Simultaneously, Japanese government bonds...
China A50 Breaks Six‑Month Resistance, Posts 7% Gain Since Feb
The FTSE China A50 index breached a six‑month resistance line on May 6, 2026, delivering a 7% rise since Feb. 27. The breakout follows a tariff truce that cut U.S. duties to 20.9% and a strengthening offshore yuan, offering short‑term...
Peace Hopes Send ASX Higher in Early Trade; Tabcorp Tanks on AUSTRAC Probe
Australian equities rose 0.8% to 8,863.60 as mining giants led the S&P/ASX 200 higher, buoyed by a sharp 7.8% drop in Brent crude to $101 per barrel after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a possible peace deal with Iran. Energy stocks...
Stocks to Watch: UOB, StarHub, Sats, AA Reit, Coliwoo, Avi-Tech Holdings
UOB posted a Q1 net profit of S$1.44 billion (≈ $1.07 billion), down 4% year‑on‑year but ahead of the S$1.39 billion consensus, nudging its shares up 1%. StarHub’s profit collapsed 81% to S$5.9 million (≈ $4.4 million) as revenue slipped 6% to S$507.3 million (≈ $375 million). Avi‑Tech’s founder sold...
PSEi Rebounds as Easing Mideast War Lift Sentiment
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 1.17% to 5,967.21 points on May 6, 2026, as easing tensions between the United States and Iran lifted risk appetite. Foreign investors added roughly $2.3 million—the third straight day of net buying—while total turnover reached about...
Markets Catch a Whiff of Peace as Oil Cools, but Risks Linger
A tentative US‑Iran memorandum sparked a sharp retreat in oil, with Brent falling 7% to $102 a barrel and WTI dropping 8% to $94, the steepest two‑session decline since the April ceasefire. The easing of supply‑risk fears lifted Indian equities,...
OANDA Forecasts Risk‑On Rally Lifts Nasdaq 100, China A50 and AUD/USD in May
OANDA projects that a renewed risk‑on appetite will push the Nasdaq 100 up 22% from its March low, lift China’s A50 by roughly 7%, and sustain a bullish trend in the AUD/USD pair throughout May. The outlook rests on strong...
US War Sentiment Eases, Asian Markets Surge
Positive, as another Trump easing drove stocks up in Asia. UK, German now both +2%. US futures pointing to another record high tonight. Gold and silver higher. Brent oil sharply 9% down, sitting just above $100. Seems like US are done...
This Chart Tells the Story of the Hottest Stock Market as Samsung Values Hits $1 Trillion
Samsung Electronics broke the $1 trillion market‑cap barrier on May 6, 2026, propelled by soaring demand for AI‑driven chips. The milestone helped lift South Korean equities, with the Kospi index jumping 6% and posting a 75% gain year‑to‑date, nearly tripling its value...
US Yield Rise Pressures Indian Stocks, Watch 10‑Year
Rising US bond yields have had a negative effect on Indian stock markets in the recent period since 2024. This pattern may persist till it does not. Right now US yields are nudging higher and that is a pressure point...
Shanghai Stocks Surge 1.2% as Quad2 Rally Continues
CHINA: stocks re-open for trading and ramp another +1.2% higher in Shanghai = another big bullish #Quad2 TREND @Hedgeye https://t.co/9PiRbaJAKa
Nifty Set for 200-Point Gap-Up Opening on Positive Global Cues
Indian equities are poised for a strong start as the Gift Nifty hovered at 24,320, implying a roughly 200‑point gap‑up opening. Improved global sentiment, driven by signs of de‑escalation in the Middle East, has cooled oil prices and lifted risk...
Taiwan Market Hits Record NT$1.5T Turnover, Taiex Peaks
Taiwan stocks hit record turnover of NT$1.5 trillion ($47.7 billion) on Wednesday. Taiex also scored a fresh high https://t.co/xaYi3cVRNv
Asian Markets Surge on Trump‑backed Iran Optimism, Chip Rally
"Asian markets rally as Trump signals optimism for Iran deal South Korea, Taiwan shares hit fresh highs amid chip frenzy" https://t.co/V3d6axgmwB
From Gift Nifty, US-Iran Peace Talks to Nasdaq, Kospi Rally: 10 Things that Changed for Indian Stock Market Overnight
Gift Nifty traded around 24,306, roughly 200 points above the previous Nifty futures close, indicating a gap‑up start for India’s equity market. Global cues were bullish – US stocks hit record highs and South Korea’s Kospi surged 5.4% amid optimism...
Asian Open : The Peace Dividend Trade Is Back on the Tape
Asian markets surged as oil prices slipped toward $108 a barrel following signs of diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran. The rally lifted MSCI Asia to record levels, with South Korea up over 5% and Samsung briefly breaching...
IMF Warns India Faces ‘Triple‑whammy’ of Energy, Finance and Monsoon Risks, Rattling Asian Equities
IMF Asia‑Pacific director Krishna Srinivasan warned that India’s high energy intensity, dependence on imports and a looming bad monsoon create a “triple‑whammy” risk to growth and equity markets. He projected Asian growth could slip from 5% to 4.4% this year, with...
Stocks Gain as Investors Take Heart From Upbeat Earnings, Dip in Oil
Asian equities slipped 0.3% as oil prices stayed above $100 per barrel, reflecting lingering geopolitical tension in the Gulf. Brent crude fell to $113.85 a barrel and U.S. crude to $105.03 after renewed U.S.-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz....
South Korea and Taiwan Set Record Highs as AI Chip Rally Fuels Asian Markets
South Korea's KOSPI and Taiwan's TAIEX surged to fresh all‑time highs on Monday, with the KOSPI up 5.1% to 6,937 and the TAIEX climbing 7% as AI‑related semiconductor earnings lifted market sentiment. The rally was powered by SK Hynix’s 12%...
Market Trading Guide: Buy Anant Taj, RBL Bank, 6 More Stocks on Wednesday for Gains up to 16%
The Economic Times’ market guide flags eight Indian equities for a 2‑3‑week swing trade, offering upside ranging from 5% to 17% despite a bearish Nifty that has lingered below its 50‑day EMA for eight sessions. Analysts cite higher‑low formations on...
Iran Flare‑up Pushes Asian Stocks Lower as Oil Spikes Above $115
Renewed fighting between the United States and Iran sent crude oil above $115 a barrel, prompting mixed moves across Asian exchanges. India’s Sensex fell 251 points to 77,017.79, Australian shares opened lower, while markets in Japan, South Korea and mainland...
PSEi Falls Below 5,900 on Inflation Shock
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped below 5,900, closing at 5,898.08, after inflation surged to 7.2% and geopolitical tensions rose in the Middle East. The index fell 0.74% (44.08 points). Turnover was only PHP 4.61 billion (≈ $83 million) and foreign inflows were PHP 38.59 million...
Singapore Stocks Slip on Fresh US-Iran Clashes; STI Down 0.1%
Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index slipped 0.1% to 4,920.61 as fresh US‑Iran clashes erupted in Gulf waters, sparking investor caution. Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust rose 2.06% to S$0.99 (≈$0.73), while Venture Corporation fell 3.57% to S$16.48 (≈$12.2 million). Total turnover...
Sensex Today | Stock Market Live Updates: Sensex , Nifty Slip as Oil Shock Fears Rise; Rupee Sinks to Fresh...
Indian equities closed modestly higher on May 5 2026, with the Nifty 50 up 0.5% just below 24,120 and the Sensex mirroring the gain. Pharma led the market, rising 0.9% driven by Laurus Labs and Gland Pharma, while IT fell 0.9%; Adani Ports...
Philippines' April Inflation Hits 7.2%, Triple Year‑Start Rate
That Philippine April inflation print was nasty: 7.2% - highest in three years, above every single forecast, and more than triple the inflation rate at the start of the year https://t.co/zVK7kPBswQ
PETER’S ASIAN BUSINESS & FINANCE BRIEFING – Tuesday 5 May 2026, 06:00 Hong Kong
US and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting President Trump to launch “Project Freedom” to free stranded vessels and pushing Brent crude to a session high of $115 per barrel. China responded by directing its companies to...
Gulf Diplomatic Proposals Stabilize Oil, Boost Asian Stocks by 3% on May 4
Asian equity markets rose roughly 3% on May 4 after Gulf diplomatic proposals eased oil‑price volatility. Brent crude steadied at $108.36 per barrel, and MSCI's broadest Asia‑Pacific index outperformed, led by a 4.6% jump in South Korean tech shares.
Adani Ports, Tata Motors and Siemens Energy Witness Block Deal Action on Monday
Global institutional investors executed large block deals on Monday, pouring roughly $890 million into Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). Capital Group International bought 2.46 crore shares worth about $484 million, while Capital Income Builder and Europacific Growth Fund added $74 million and...
Singapore STI Nudges up 0.2% as Venture Corp Jumps 5.5%
Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) edged higher by 0.2% to 4,924.31 on Monday, driven by a 5.5% rise in Venture Corporation. The rally came as gainers outnumbered losers 416 to 221 and regional indices posted solid gains.
IQIYI Shares Hit $1.25, New 52‑Week Low Amid Earnings Woes
iQIYI (NASDAQ: IQ) plunged to a fresh 52‑week low of $1.25 on March 17, 2026, after a 2.33% drop that underscored mounting earnings concerns and a broader sell‑off in Chinese tech. The slide pushed the market cap to $1.21 billion, far...