East Asia

The global stock market rose on Wednesday, as investors took a break after a sell-off triggered by artificial intelligence. They also assessed a report that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde intends to step down early. STOXX 600 rose 0.8% to a new record high on the back of mining and defence stocks. The pan-European index is now set for its third consecutive day of gains. Wall?Street Futures rose 0.6% the day after the main indices made modest gains. Investors who have suffered from a series of brutal declines over the past few weeks are now able to take a...

Rocky Swift gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Investors are still focusing on geopolitical tensions, as well as signs of cooling in the hot tech sector. This is affecting price movements on commodities, currencies and stocks. Asian shares climbed a little higher, after a slight gain on Wall Street, amid concerns about artificial intelligence's impact on the economy and?valuations?linked to it. Many markets in Asia remained closed due to Lunar New Year. The Nikkei jumped more than 1% in Japan on the expectation that the country's tech companies will benefit from the...

The Asian stock markets rose?on Wednesday, despite renewed concerns about artificial intelligence that gripped international markets. Oil prices fluctuated as Iran announced progress in its?nuclear talks with the United States. New Zealand dollar fell after central bank stated that monetary policy?needs?to remain accommodative to support economic recovery. The Nikkei 225, the benchmark index of Japan, rose by 1.4% after a three-day decline. Australia's S&P/ASX200 also gained 0.5%. Mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore were all closed during the Lunar New Year holiday. Stock futures in Europe pointed to a slight gain at the opening. Euro Stoxx futures rose 0.07%. German...

Rocky Swift gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. As much of Asia was closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, all eyes were on the Middle East in the hope that talks between the U.S. Geopolitical tensions will be de-escalated by talks between the?U.S. Gold and oil prices fell after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that he will be participating "indirectly," in the talks scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva on Iran's nuclear program. He also said he believes Tehran wants to make a deal. Following a holiday in the U.S. for Presidents'...

The Asian financial markets treaded carefully in Tuesday's holiday-thinned trade, but oil prices rose as U.S.?and Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva were due to start later that day. The markets in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Taiwan were closed Tuesday to celebrate Lunar New Year. Monday,?U.S. markets were closed for Presidents' Day. The Nikkei fell 0.5% and the Topix, which is a broader index, dropped 0.2%. The S&P/ASX200 index in Australia was almost 0.5% higher. The 10-year Treasury yields fell 1 basis point on Tuesday to 4,044%, the lowest since December. Japan's 5-year yield dropped...

The world's shares were stable on Monday, after Friday's decline - triggered by AI concerns - as the Lunar New Year holidays in Asia and Presidents Day made for thin trading. China, South Korea and Taiwan were all closed markets, but MSCI's broadest world share index, along with currencies and bonds, steadied. Stock futures continue to be traded, but the U.S. bond and stock markets remain closed. The European share market ended the day with gains after a recovery in the banking sector. This sector was impacted last week by AI-related concerns that spread to the financials. The STOXX 600...

The world's shares were stable on Monday, after Friday's decline - triggered by AI concerns - as the Lunar New Year holidays in Asia and Presidents Day made for thin trading. China, South Korea and Taiwan were all closed markets. MSCI's broadest world share index rose by 0.1% as currencies and bonds stabilized. Stock futures continue to be traded, but the U.S. bond and stock markets will not open. The European stock market rose on the back of a recovery in the banking sector. This sector was severely hit by AI-related concerns last week, when they spread to the financials....

Wayne Cole gives us a look at what the markets will be like in Europe and around the world today. The week has started off quiet in the United States and Asia. The Nikkei was stung by Japanese data as the GDP missed expectations. The economy only grew 0.2% annually in the fourth quarter of 2012, while analysts expected a rebound to 1.6% following a contraction in Q3. The GDP also increased by just 0.1% on a year-on-year basis, which is a dramatic drop from the 2% growth rate of mid-2025. The nominal GDP was slightly better, at 3.4% for...

The Asian share market quietly consolidated recent gains on Monday, as the Lunar?Year holiday led to thin trading. Meanwhile, dismal economic reports from Japan drained some of the air from that booming stock market. China, South Korea and?Taiwan are among the markets closed. This leaves?currencies, bonds, and precious metals becalmed. Japan's economy only grew by a meager 0.2% annually in the quarter ending December, far less than the 1.6% forecast. Government spending was a drag on the activity. The figures are disappointing and highlight the difficult task that Prime Minister Takaichi faces. They should encourage her to push for more...

Axios, citing U.S. officials who were briefed about the issue, reported that President Donald 'Trump' and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed at a White House meeting on Wednesday to work towards reducing Iran’s oil exports. Axios quoted a senior U.S. government official as saying, "We agreed that we would go full force and exert maximum pressure on Iran, such as regarding Iranian oil sales to China." China's Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Sunday, which was the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday. China is responsible for over 80% of Iran’s...

By Anna Szymanski February 13th - What Mike Dolan, the ROI team and I are looking forward to reading, watching and listening to this weekend. Editor's Note Hello Morning Bid readers! This week has been a rollercoaster ride. We saw a massive election victory in Japan, the extension of artificial intelligence disruption, a pushback against President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda, and a mixture of U.S. data that roiled rates markets. All of this suggests that market expectations on everything from technology to "Takaichi" are as clear as mud. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 2% on Thursday after Cisco Systems' disappointing earnings....

After a week-long selling spree, global shares fell from their record highs ahead of important U.S. Inflation data. Meanwhile, concerns about shrinking margins and AI disruption remained under the surface. Early trading saw the?MSCI index drop 0.2% while Europe's STOXX was flat. U.S. Futures were flat as well, after steep losses on Friday that saw the Nasdaq Composite, which is heavily weighted towards technology, post its largest daily decline in three weeks. It fell 2%. The selling continued in Asia where Nikkei, the Japanese stock market index, fell by 1.2%. Transportation companies in the United States were the latest to...

Sumitomo Corp., of Japan, said that the Ambatovy Nickel & Cobalt Project in Madagascar is still closed after Tropical Cyclone Gezani hit the island last week and damaged facilities. The?company's statement said that operations were immediately suspended, safety being the number one priority. The company said that it is currently assessing the extent of the damage, the condition of the equipment and the impact on earnings. Sumitomo said it would work with all parties involved to determine the extent of the damage as quickly as possible and implement the appropriate measures for recovery. A company spokesperson stated that the timing...

The price of copper fell on Tuesday due to a'stronger dollar' and a rise in inventories at London Metal Exchange-registered storage facilities, as well as low trading volumes because of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. Benchmark three-month "copper" on the London Metal Exchange fell 1.8% to $12,619 per metric ton at 1702 GMT, after reaching its lowest level since February 6 (12,586). Metal, which is used for power and construction, has fallen 13% since a record high was reached on January 29,?on the back of a wave speculative purchases, encouraged by expectations that demand would be strong. The high...

Investors were cautious in early trade Tuesday, as they awaited the U.S. Iran nuclear talks. Meanwhile,?Iran conducted a naval exercise near the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia's benchmark Index fell 0.9%. Al Rajhi Bank lost 1.1%, and Saudi Arabian Mining Company declined 3.3%. Saudi Aramco, the oil giant, is down by 0.4%. Crude oil prices, a key catalyst for Gulf financial markets, have dipped ahead of U.S. - Iran talks aimed at deescalating tensions in the face of expected OPEC+ production increases. Iran started a military exercise on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz. This is a crucial international shipping...

Japan's Nikkei stock average fell on Tuesday as the post-election euphoria waned and U.S. Presidents' Day'market holiday' left 'investors' with 'few' trading 'cues. As of 1300 GMT, the Nikkei Index was down by 0.6% to 56,451.43, extending its slide for a 4th consecutive session. The Topix index fell 0.4% to 3,771.16. Ryotaro?Sawada is a senior analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory. The price movement seems to be primarily driven by technicals and demand-supply. The post-general-election rally from last week, following fiscal dove Prime Minister ?Sanae Takaichi's landslide victory, also appeared to fade, ?he added. SoftBank shares fell 4.6%. They were...

The Dutch state-owned financial institution Invest International will lend a total of $60 million to the chipmaker 'Nexperia, in order to finance a series of global investments at 'its production sites. The funds will be used to boost production, modernise the production lines and improve productivity. Nexperia in the Netherlands, a unit of China's Wingtech, was caught up in a corporate standoff with Europe after a Dutch state intervention installed an European management team last year. According to the Dutch newspaper FD, this move scared away investors and caused a global crisis in terms of chip supplies for the automotive...

Prices of copper fell on Monday, due to the?firmer dollar as well as a focus on increasing inventories and weak demand prospects during holiday trading. The London Metal Exchange's Wednesday settlement or rollover for maturing contracts and the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday this week, as well as the U.S. public holiday on Monday, will likely result in low volumes and volatile movements due to the expiring contracts and the holiday. As of 1700 GMT, the benchmark copper price on the LME was 0.2% lower. It stood at $12.845 per metric ton. It has fallen more than 11% from a...

JSW MG Motor is a joint venture of China's SAIC Motor with India's steel to cement JSW Group. It plans to invest 'up to $440m' to expand its India 'factory' and launch new vehicles, with a particular focus on hybrid 'and electric models', according to its managing director. Loss-making automaker SAIC has struggled with growing its presence in India since New Delhi, in 2020, tried to limit investment from Beijing. In 2024, SAIC sold its India unit's minority stake to JSW to raise money. However, despite the fact that sales have been increasing, SAIC has not yet become profitable. JSW...

The cyclone which hit Madagascar last week has stopped production at the cobalt and Nickel miner Ambatovy. Traders said that a prolonged outage could increase prices for battery materials. Ambatovy is owned by the Japanese trading company Sumitomo Corp and the state-owned Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation. In 2024, it will produce around 28,000 tons of nickel and approximately 2,500 tons cobalt. The storm that hit Madagascar's Toamasina port, the main port for exports, caused a lot of disruption to trade. Ambatovy confirmed its Toamasina processing plant on Madagascar's east coast suffered material damage. It said it was...

Iron ore futures fell on Friday, as traders closed out their 'positions' ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays in China. During this time, demand is expected to fall significantly. The most-traded May iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange closed the daytime trading down 2.36% to 746 yuan (107.96 dollars) per metric ton. This contract has fallen 1.44% this week. As of 0715 GMT, the benchmark March iron ore traded on the Singapore Exchange at $97.25 per ton. This is a 2.34% decrease. The contract has fallen 1.76% this week and is on track for its fifth consecutive...

Iron ore futures fell on Friday, as traders 'closed out their positions before a Lunar New Year holiday that will last a full week in China. During this time demand is expected to drop significantly. As of 0322 GMT, the most-traded?iron ore May contract on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was down 1.5% at 752.5 Yuan ($108.97). This week, the contract has fallen by 1.63%. The benchmark March ore traded on the Singapore Exchange fell 1.24% to $98.35 per ton. This week, the contract has lost 0.7%. If the current momentum continues, it is on course for a fifth weekly?decline. Data...

Data from Benchmark Mineral - Intelligence (BMI), a consultancy, showed that global EV registrations dropped 3% in January due to the introduction of a EV purchase 'tax' and lower EV subsides in China as well as policy alterations in the U.S. Why it's important Global automakers with a large exposure to the U.S. have written down $55 billion over the last year. This is due to their scaling back of electric vehicle ambitions as they face a difficult U.S. marketplace under President Donald Trump. They also faced price wars and more complex vehicle types in Europe. The European Union, as...

Aluminum prices reached a two-week high after Australia's South32 confirmed that it would close a smelter located in Mozambique. However, all metals fell later as investor sentiment soured and financial markets tumbled. Benchmark three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange reached its highest since January 30, at $3,163.50 per metric ton. South32 confirmed it would place its Mozambique Aluminium plant on care and maintainance next month due to a power shortage. Aluminum, however, as well as other metals,?moved in the red during European afternoon trading, along with financial markets and was down 0.1% at $3.100 by 1730 GMT. U.S. indexes...