Asian stocks rise after soft US CPI, Kospi rallies over 6% on SK Hynix wins - The Business Times

• Wall Street indices ended higher as investor sentiment was boosted by softer producer inflation data and strong early second-quarter earnings reports. • PayPal saw a significant surge following a reported buyout offer, while BlackRock and Morgan Stanley both beat profit estimates.

• Spandana Sphoorty Financial has acquired the remaining stake in Criss Financial as part of its strategic growth. • The company announced it will re-evaluate and modify its proposed merger scheme before seeking fresh regulatory approval.

• The Indian stock market closed with mixed results, as the BSE Sensex ended 100 points higher while the NSE Nifty50 remained flat. • Market volatility was driven by a combination of geopolitical developments, macroeconomic trends, crude oil fluctuations, and foreign institutional investor activity.

• Indian markets are eyeing a positive start on Thursday, with Gift Nifty trading near 24,106, up 39 points from the previous close. • Jio Financial Services reported its highest-ever quarterly Profit After Tax (PAT) of ₹785 crore for Q1 FY27, representing a 38.3% year-on-year increase from ₹568 crore.

• Wall Street indices ended higher as investor sentiment was boosted by softer producer inflation data and strong early Q2 corporate earnings. • PayPal shares surged following reports of a buyout offer, while BlackRock and Morgan Stanley helped lift the market by beating earnings estimates.

• Morgan Stanley reported record net revenues of $21.3 billion for Q2 2026, resulting in a significant 62% surge in earnings-per-share. • The firm highlighted the success of its "2.0" initiative launched 1.5 years ago, which integrates research, equity content, and foreign exchange services with partner MUFG.

• Asian stock markets rose following the release of soft US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which boosted investor sentiment regarding potential interest rate cuts. • Market performance was mixed, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index advancing 1.5%, while China’s Shanghai Composite and the CSI 300 both edged down by 0.3%.

• Indian equities edged higher on July 16, 2026, as investors balanced domestic growth against various global economic risks. • Key international developments include the Bank of Korea raising interest rates for the first time in 3.5 years to combat inflation and TSMC anticipating record Q2 profits fueled by AI chip demand.

• Asian equities declined, with the South Korean Kospi leading the drop due to renewed selling pressure on semiconductor shares. • Crude oil prices continued to rise, driven by the impact of fresh military strikes in the Middle East.

• Indian equities closed marginally higher after giving up most of their intraday gains due to volatility and mixed sector performance. • Market sentiment was bolstered by softer US inflation data, but offset by rising crude oil prices and ongoing tensions in West Asia.

• ASML is projected to report a profit increase for Q2, while IBM shares have experienced a significant plunge amid shifting market sentiment regarding AI and chip-making. • China's economic growth slowed to 4.3% in the first half of the year, missing economist expectations and highlighting a trend of domestic weakness despite strong exports.