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.
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 below its $1.48 billion level earlier in the month.
Rupee Hits Record Low as Nifty Closes Well Off Day’s High
India's rupee slipped to a fresh record low, hovering around 95 INR per dollar as the Nifty 50 closed at 24,119, up 0.5%. The market’s rally, fueled by a BJP win in three state elections, lower crude prices and a 33% jump...
KOSPI Surges +5.12%: Two Stocks Built This Number
South Korean equities jumped 5.12% as foreign investors poured roughly $2.1 billion into the market, with 98.8% of net buying concentrated in SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. The inflows validated an AI‑memory demand thesis, while a Hormuz‑related oil supply shock prevented...
Foreign Investors Pull $7.4 Billion From Indian Equities in April, Favor AI Hubs
Foreign portfolio investors dumped Indian equities worth ₹60,847 crore ($7.4 bn) in April, marking a second straight month of heavy outflows. Analysts link the shift to soaring AI‑related investments in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, a trend that could reshape underwriting and...
Maruti Suzuki Shares Jump ~5% on Record April Sales, Top Sensex Gainer
Maruti Suzuki's stock climbed almost 5% on Wednesday, driven by a record 187,704 passenger vehicles sold in April – a 35% year‑on‑year increase. The surge made the automaker the biggest winner on the BSE Sensex as investors cheered the strongest...
AI Chipmakers in Korea, Taiwan Drive Asian Stocks to Record
Asian equities surged as AI‑focused chipmakers in South Korea and Taiwan propelled the MSCI Asia Pacific Index to a 2% gain, its highest level since April. TSMC, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix all posted record‑high shares, lifting regional tech benchmarks...
Taiex Posts Record Daily Point Gain, Ends Above 40,000 Points
Taiwan's benchmark Taiex index posted a record daily gain of 1,778.51 points, closing at 40,705.14 and breaking the 40,000‑point barrier for the first time. The surge was powered by semiconductor heavyweights, with TSMC jumping 6.56% and contributing roughly 1,110 points...
Asian Markets Mixed, Oil Steady After Wall Street Hits Records
Asian equities displayed a mixed performance on Monday as U.S. stocks hit fresh all‑time highs, buoyed by strong corporate earnings. South Korea’s Kospi surged 3.8% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.4%, whereas Australia’s ASX 200 slipped modestly. Oil prices remained...
Gains Narrow by Noon; Kotak Bank, Bharti Airtel Drag as Broader Market Stays Firm
Indian equities held gains into midday on May 4, with the BSE Sensex up 0.53% at 77,324 and the NSE Nifty 50 up 0.52% at 24,122. The rally was led by consumer‑goods heavyweight Hindustan Unilever, which jumped 3.9% on roughly $37 million of...
Australian Shares Slip as RBA Decision Looms, NAB Posts Profit Miss
Australian shares slipped 0.4% to 8,697.10 as investors braced for the Reserve Bank of Australia’s rate decision. National Australia Bank reported a half‑year cash earnings miss, sending its stock down 1.2% and prompting the big four banks to raise provisions...
Kotak Mahindra Bank Shares Fall 5% Despite Q4 Profit Beat, Top Nifty 50 Loser
Kotak Mahindra Bank posted a 13% year‑on‑year rise in Q4 FY26 net profit, reaching ₹4,027 crore (≈ $485 million), driven by higher net interest income and sharply lower provisions. Despite the earnings beat, the shares slipped up to 5% in early trade, closing...
APAC Markets Poised for Record High as Tech Rallies
APAC stocks set to hit fresh record today. Tech names are RIPPING in Asia on Monday (partly catch up with closures on Friday) https://t.co/lRVkV2JWkX
Nifty Index Holds Near 24,000 as India VIX Rises, Traders Eye Breakout
The Nifty 50 closed at 23,997.55, up 0.42%, as the India VIX slipped 6.35% to 18.46 but volatility spikes persisted. Traders are watching the 23,900‑24,000 band for a breakout that could trigger a surge in options trading.
India’s Sensex Jumps 6.9% and Small‑Cap Indexes Surge Over 18% in Record April Rally
India’s Sensex rose 6.90% and the Nifty 50 climbed 7.46% in April, marking the strongest monthly rally since December 2023. Small‑cap and micro‑cap indices outperformed, delivering double‑digit gains despite continued foreign institutional outflows.
Yen Spike Stalls Global Markets as Dollar Dips 1% Amid Suspected Japanese Intervention
The yen jumped sharply after Japanese authorities were believed to have intervened, sending the dollar down as much as 1% before it steadied at 156.54 per yen. The move froze equity markets worldwide, with tech earnings providing the only support...
NEPSE Slides 1.8% as Profit‑booking and Political Risk Erase $615 Million in Wealth
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) closed at 2,738.72 points, down 1.79% over a four‑day week, erasing roughly $615 million in investor wealth. The slide was driven by profit‑booking and heightened political uncertainty after recent high‑profile arrests.
TSMC Futures Leap 40 Points After Trump Halts Iran Action, Taiwan Market Poised for Rebound
TSMC futures jumped 40 points in pre‑market trading after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a halt to hostile actions against Iran. The move lifted expectations that Taiwan's main index will open higher on Monday, despite continued foreign‑investor selling. Analysts...
April 2026 Sees $37 B Net Outflows From Chinese Stock‑Linked ETFs, Telecom and Satellite Themes Gain
Chinese equity ETFs lost about ¥2.64 trillion ($37 bn) in April, driven by broad withdrawals from wide‑index funds and sector themes. Telecom and satellite ETFs attracted net inflows, contrasting sharply with chip and AI funds that saw sizable outflows, highlighting a sector...
Pakistan’s Inflation Soars Above 11% as Oil Shock Triggers Stock Market Crash
Topline Securities warned that soaring global oil prices tied to the Middle East war will push Pakistan’s inflation above 11% and force the State Bank to tighten rates. The surge in energy costs has already driven a 15% plunge in...
Nikkei 225 Snaps Four‑week Rally, Slides From ¥60,000 to ¥59,513
The Nikkei 225 closed at ¥59,513, down ¥203 (0.3%) and ending a four‑week rally. The brief breach of the ¥60,000 (≈$382) psychological level earlier in the week was erased by profit‑taking in semiconductor stocks, rising crude oil, and speculation of...
BSE Surpasses NSE in April F&O Market Share
BSE Ltd has overtaken National Stock Exchange of India in the F&O segment. In April, BSE gained 55.4% market share, while NSE dropped to 44.6%.
Middle East Conflict Spikes Oil Prices, Stalls Fed Cuts and Lifts Asian Bank Stocks
The Federal Reserve left rates unchanged as the Iran war drove oil to four‑year highs, dampening hopes for near‑term cuts. In Asia, Singapore’s DBS Group posted a $2.93 billion Q1 profit, propelling its shares up 2.8% and buoying regional banking sentiment...
Analyzing Grab Earnings: Indonesia Driver-Fee Cap Impact
I plan to cover $GRAB earnings early next week and will share my views on the impact of the "Indonesia shock“ (driver-fee cap).
FPIs Sell ₹60,000 Cr Equity Amid Nifty Surge
Despite the massive Nifty and mid/smallcap moves in April 2026, FPIs continued selling at 60,000 cr. sales in equity: (Source: NSDL) https://t.co/Acr9NvlE78
Asian Market Sense - Data Impacting Asia May 4 - 8. Along with UK and US Closing Commentary
The Asian market week of May 4‑8 is compressed by holidays in Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand and other economies, limiting trading days. Meanwhile, a packed calendar of macro data—including PMI releases across the region, the US jobs report, ISM figures...
KOSPI Hits Record Highs, Up 30% in April as AI Chip Boom Drives $4 Trillion Market Cap
South Korea’s KOSPI surged to a new all‑time high of 6,750 points, delivering a 30.6% rise in April. The rally, powered by semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix, lifted Korea’s market capitalization to about $4 trillion, but analysts are flagging valuation pressures...
Bursa Malaysia Expected to Trade 1,700‑1,730 Amid West Asia Tensions, Valuations Seen Fair
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI is projected to oscillate between 1,700 and 1,730 points next week as geopolitical risk in West Asia persists. At the same time, Rakuten Trade’s research team says the index is fairly valued, trading at about...
Social Media Buzz Predicts Strong Post‑Holiday A‑Share Opening
A wave of social‑media chatter on May 2 suggested the Shanghai Composite, Shenzhen Component and ChiNext would open sharply higher after the May Day holiday. The hype draws on April’s double‑digit gains, strong earnings in lithium and rare‑earth sectors, and...
Toto Ltd Shares Surge 18% to Five‑year High on AI Semiconductor Expansion and Record Profits
Toto Ltd (TOTDF) saw its shares close at ¥6,425 ($40.86), an 18% jump to a five‑year peak, after unveiling a major AI‑focused semiconductor component expansion and reporting record annual profit of ¥40.257 billion ($260 million). The move positions the bathroom‑fixture maker as...
India's Sensex Slides 0.75% as Oil Spike and Geopolitical Tensions Drag Markets
The BSE Sensex fell 582.86 points (0.75%) to 76,913.50 and the NSE Nifty 50 slipped 180.10 points (0.74%) to 23,997.55 on Thursday. A surge in Brent crude above $120 per barrel and heightened geopolitical risk around the Strait of Hormuz...
Zhejiang Huahai Pharma Posts Q1 Net Profit Rise to $62 M on Robust Generic Sales
Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced Q1 net profit of RMB444.33 million ($62 million), up from RMB375.01 million a year earlier, driven by strong generic drug sales. Revenue slipped 1.4% to RMB2.335 billion ($327 million), highlighting a shift toward higher‑margin products amid a tightening Chinese...
Asian Markets Rise on Labor Day as Wall Street Hits Records, US‑Iran Tensions Loom
Asian equities edged higher on Friday despite holiday‑light trading, with Japan's Nikkei 225 up 0.67% to about 59,680 and Australia's ASX 200 gaining 0.9% to 8,740. The rally followed record‑breaking closes on Wall Street and was tempered by escalating US‑Iran...
Asian Markets Edge Higher as Oil Holds Near $111; Traders Brace for Fed and Earnings
Asian stock indexes nudged higher while Brent crude steadied above $111 as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s rate decision. Credit Agricole announced a €800 million ($860 million) share buy‑back, and Darling Ingredients reported a 2.3% rise in its stock after a strong...
Australian and Japanese Markets Rise as Tokyo Intervenes in Yen Amid Iran Tensions
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 0.74% to 8,729.80 and Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.38% to 59,513.12 on Friday, buoyed by a reported yen‑intervention by Tokyo. The moves came despite heightened geopolitical risk from escalating tensions with Iran.
Exit Polls May Lift Markets Briefly, but Oil Remains Key Risk for Equities
Indian equity markets may receive a fleeting lift from exit polls indicating that incumbents will retain power in most states, but the boost is likely short‑lived. Kotak Institutional Equities warns that crude‑oil price movements remain the dominant short‑term risk for...
KOSPI Hits Record Intraday High of 6,750 on Samsung Earnings and US Tech Gains
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI opened above 6,700 and climbed to an intraday peak of 6,750.27, driven by Samsung Electronics' record quarterly profit and stronger‑than‑expected revenue from U.S. giants Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft. The rally was underpinned by net foreign...
STI Climbs 1.1% as DBS Posts Record Q1 Profit, Boosting Singapore Market
DBS Bank reported a net profit of S$2.93 bn for Q1, up 1% year‑on‑year and ahead of forecasts, sending its shares 3.4% higher and pushing the Straits Times Index up 1.1% to 4,912.69. The rally helped offset a week of losses...
Weekly Wrap: Market Steps Back From the Brink with a Rise
The ASX 200 jumped 0.7% to 8,729.8 points on Friday, snapping an eight‑day losing streak that had persisted since 2018. The rally was led by the materials sector, with BHP and Rio Tinto each gaining over 2% as oil prices retreated to...
BYD's Q1 Profit Drops 55% as Discount War Cuts Per‑car Earnings
China's EV leader BYD posted a 55% year‑over‑year profit plunge to 4.08 bn yuan ($597 m) in Q1 2026. The decline stems from record‑high discounts that slashed per‑vehicle profit to as low as 3,000 yuan, while short‑term debt rose 72% to 66.3 bn yuan...
India's Sensex Jumps 609 Points as Auto and FMCG Earnings Spark Rally
India's benchmark indices surged on Wednesday, with the Sensex gaining 609.45 points (0.79%) to 77,496.36 and the Nifty rising 181.95 points (0.76%) to 24,177.65. The rally was powered by strong earnings from auto‑maker Maruti Suzuki and FMCG leaders, while a...
Stocks Fall in Asia After Fed Holds Interest Rate Steady
Asian equities slipped Thursday as the U.S. Federal Reserve kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.5‑3.75%, marking a third pause this year and reinforcing a higher‑for‑longer outlook. An 8‑4 vote revealed deep divisions within the Fed, the sharpest dissent in...
Asian Tech Stocks Rise as Oil Hits $125 Barrel, Bonds Slip
Asian technology equities rallied on strong earnings as Brent crude surged past $125 a barrel, sending bond yields tumbling. The mixed market reaction highlighted a risk‑on tilt despite central banks’ hawkish signals.
Occam’s Razor of Tech Earnings
Asian equities were mixed as the U.S. dollar slipped 2.6% against the yen and Chinese markets fell ahead of Labour Day holidays. Semiconductor stocks led the rally, with Cambricon reporting Q1 revenue up 159% YoY to $415 million and net income...
Vietnam’s VN‑Index Posts Strongest Gain in Asia, Up 1.22% on April 28
On April 28, Vietnam’s VN‑Index closed at 1,875.84, up 22.55 points (1.22%) – the biggest single‑day gain among Asian markets. The rally was powered by large‑cap stocks, while most of the market lagged and foreign investors sold net 551 bn VND ($23 m).
Ayala Land Q1 Profit Drops to P5.4B
Ayala Land Inc. posted a first‑quarter net profit of ₱5.4 billion (about $98 million), down 22% from the same period a year earlier. Revenue rose to ₱37.5 billion (~$682 million), buoyed by a 9% increase in leasing and hospitality earnings. Hospitality revenue jumped 30%...
Sensex Today | Stock Market Live Updates: Sensex, Nifty Close in Red as Market Breadth Turns Sharply Negative
India’s benchmark indices closed lower on April 30, with the Sensex slipping 582 points to 76,913 (-0.75%) and the Nifty 50 falling 180 points to 23,997 (-0.74%). Market breadth turned sharply negative – 1,295 stocks advanced versus 1,976 decliners – and...
KOSPI Peaks Near 6,600 Before Pullback as Won Gains Slightly
The KOSPI climbed to a fresh high of 6,624.14 before easing 0.25% in early trade, as retail and institutional investors bought roughly $107 million of shares while foreigners sold about $98 million. Simultaneously, the won‑dollar rate edged up to 1,474...
South Korea's Kospi Clocks Best Month in 28 Years as Tech Optimism Triumphs over Iran War Worries
South Korea’s Kospi posted its strongest monthly gain in 28 years, climbing nearly 31% and marking the best performance since January 1998. The rally was driven by a surge in AI‑related tech stocks, with semiconductor leaders SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics jumping 60% and...
CATL Share Sale Expected to Narrow HK‑Shenzhen Price Gap
A blockbuster share sale by CATL is poised to further chip away at the unusually high premium on the company’s Hong Kong-listed shares, potentially bringing them closer in line with its Shenzhen stock, analysts say https://t.co/bVwHsKyCjy
Xizhi Tech Raises HKD2.5 Bn in Hong Kong IPO, Shares Surge 380% on Debut
Xizhi Technology, the world’s first listed AI silicon‑photonic chip maker, closed its Hong Kong IPO with HKD2.53 bn ($323 m) of proceeds. The stock opened at HKD880, 380% above the HKD183.2 offer, giving the company a market value north of HKD80 bn ($10.2 bn)....