Stocks

• Il Presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump ha incontrato il leader cinese Xi Jinping giovedì presso la Grande Sala del Popolo a Pechino per discutere delle relazioni USA-Cina, di Taiwan e della cooperazione economica, senza che gli analisti prevedano grandi svolte. • I mercati asiatici sono stati misti: il Nikkei 225 del Giappone è sceso dell'1% a 62.654,05 dopo aver raggiunto un record intraday sopra i 63.700; il Kospi della Corea del Sud è salito dell'1,8% al record di 7.981,41 spinto dai titoli tecnologici AI; lo Shanghai Composite è sceso dell'1,5% a 4.177,92 mentre l'Hang Seng di Hong Kong è rimasto stabile a 26.389,04. • I leader hanno concordato che lo Stretto di Hormuz debba rimanere aperto nel contesto della guerra in Iran che dura da oltre due mesi, con la speranza che Pechino possa sfruttare i legami con Teheran; il greggio USA è sceso dello 0,2% a 100,86 dollari al barile.

• I mercati asiatici hanno aperto in ribasso ma hanno recuperato in gran parte il 13 maggio; le azioni MSCI Asia-Pacific escluso il Giappone hanno rimbalzato con un guadagno dello 0,3% dopo un calo iniziale dell'1%, con l'ottimismo per l'AI che ha compensato l'inflazione statunitense e il rallentamento dei colloqui tra USA e Iran. • Il Nikkei 225 del Giappone è salito dello 0,8% arrivando a circa 62.774, il Kospi della Corea del Sud è balzato del 2,6% raggiungendo il record di 7.708-7.844 dopo un calo del 3,2% dovuto al fallimento dell'accordo salariale del sindacato di Samsung Electronics, mentre l'S&P/ASX 200 dell'Australia è sceso dello 0,3% a 8.645. • Il Brent è sceso dell'1,4% a 106,32 dollari e il greggio USA a 101,60 dollari in mezzo alle tensioni in Medio Oriente; il rendimento dei Treasury USA a 10 anni è sceso al 4,459% e il dollaro è rimasto stabile a 98,369 rispetto alle altre valute.

• I hedge fund globali hanno incrementato gli investimenti in Asia, con gli acquisti settimanali di titoli sudcoreani, giapponesi e taiwanesi che hanno raggiunto il massimo di 10 anni per la settimana conclusasi il 7 maggio, secondo un rapporto di Morgan Stanley. • L'impennata, la più consistente in termini di valore nominale in oltre un decennio, è stata guidata da clienti di tutte le regioni e strategie mirate al settore tecnologico asiatico nel contesto del boom dell'AI. • L'esposizione netta degli hedge fund verso Giappone, Corea del Sud e Taiwan è salita ai massimi dal 2010, raggiungendo ora circa il 19% del posizionamento globale, con un focus su semiconduttori e hardware nella supply chain dell'AI.

• I mercati azionari globali, tra cui Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, Nikkei 225 e KOSPI, hanno raggiunto nuovi record, spinti da un ottimismo verso l'IA che ha prevalso sulle tensioni legate al cessate il fuoco tra USA e Iran. • L'aumento dei prezzi del petrolio, le maggiori aspettative di inflazione e la retorica hawkish della Fed hanno spinto al rialzo i rendimenti dei Treasury USA, rafforzando la prospettiva di tassi d'interesse "higher-for-longer" e la forza del USD. • Il Presidente Trump si recherà in Cina per un vertice con Xi Jinping su Iran, questioni nucleari, commercio e IA, accompagnato da dirigenti di Tesla, Apple e BlackRock.

• L'indice azionario asiatico di MSCI è salito dell'1% all'apertura, con il mercato della Corea del Sud che è balzato fino al 5% raggiungendo un massimo storico, spinto dall'ottimismo sugli investimenti nell'intelligenza artificiale. • Il prezzo del greggio Brent è aumentato del 3,6%, raggiungendo quasi i 105 dollari al barile, dopo che il presidente Donald Trump ha respinto la risposta dell'Iran alla sua proposta di pace, prolungando le tensioni e la chiusura effettiva dello Stretto di Hormuz. • I futures dell'S&P 500 statunitense sono scesi dello 0,1% a seguito delle notizie, mentre la strategia di momentum a favore dei recenti vincitori come il settore tech ha sostenuto i mercati asiatici, nonostante i rischi in Medio Oriente alimentino i timori di inflazione e facciano salire i rendimenti dei titoli di Stato.

• I titoli di Corea del Sud e Taiwan sono quelli che hanno registrato i rally più significativi a livello globale questo mese, con l'indice Kospi della Corea del Sud in crescita del 78% da inizio anno, spinto dall'ottimismo per i guadagni legati al settore tecnologico. • I trader si stanno posizionando affinché i leader tecnologici asiatici guidino la prossima fase del rally azionario mondiale, concentrandosi sulle aziende di semiconduttori ed elettronica di questi mercati. • Questa performance superiore sottolinea il ruolo cruciale dell'Asia nell'equity globale, potendo sostenere il momentum se i mercati statunitense ed europeo dovessero stabilizzarsi.

• The S&P 500 fell 0.4% or 28.01 points to 7,337.11 on Thursday, retreating from its all-time high, while the Dow dropped 313.62 points or 0.6% to 49,596.97 and Nasdaq slipped 0.1% or 32.75 points to 25,806.20. • Oil prices yo-yoed due to Wall Street's waiting on hopes for a deal to end the Iran war, with earlier sharp swings from dashed expectations of reopening the Strait of Hormuz; Iran created a government agency to vet and tax vessels passing through, potentially raising fuel costs. • Standouts included Axon Enterprise rallying 10.6% after raising its revenue forecast due to counter-drone product growth, and Albemarle rising 3% on better-than-expected results, while Shake Shack tumbled 28.3% and Whirlpool fell 11.9% on weak earnings.

• Over the last 7 days, the US market rose 3.2% and is up 31% over the past year, with earnings forecast to grow 16% annually, spotlighting undiscovered gems based on debt-to-equity, revenue growth, earnings growth, and health ratings. • Top picks include First Bancorp (68.27% debt/equity, 1.25% revenue growth, -3.09% earnings growth, ★★★★★★), Southern Michigan Bancorp (108.80% debt/equity, 7.38% revenue growth, 0.84% earnings growth, ★★★★★★), and Cashmere Valley Bank (31.63% debt/equity, 5.07% revenue growth, 1.43% earnings growth, ★★★★★★). • Other notables are ASA Gold and Precious Metals (12.65% revenue growth, 41.20% earnings growth, ★★★★★★), Anbio Biotechnology (-30.09% revenue growth, -3.45% earnings growth, ★★★★★★), and Affinity Bancshares (41.71% debt/equity, 1.36% revenue growth, -0.22% earnings growth, ★★★★★★).

• Investment analyst Simply Wall St identified top-performing dividend stocks across Asia for May 2026, with Toukei Computer (TSE:4746) leading at 4.0% yield and SIGMAXYZ Holdings (TSE:6088) at 4.18% yield, all rated at five-star dividend ratings. • Key dividend opportunities include NCD (TSE:4783) at 4.94% yield, HUAYU Automotive Systems (SHSE:600741) at 5.43% yield, and Guangxi LiuYao Group (SHSE:603368) at 4.45% yield, representing strong income-generating investments across Japan and China. • These dividend stocks offer investors seeking income exposure to Japanese and Chinese companies with consistent payout histories and reliable dividend payment records across technology, automotive, and diversified sectors.

• Asian stock markets retreated from recent record peaks as escalating Middle East tensions revived concerns over crude oil supply disruptions and energy price stability. • The geopolitical escalation triggered steep losses in oil markets, reversing earlier gains and creating volatility across regional equity indices. • Rising energy supply concerns underscore the fragility of the recent market rally despite strong AI sector performance, with investors reassessing risk exposure to conflict-affected regions.

US president pauses ‘Project Freedom’ to work on ‘final agreement’ with Tehran; stocks also ride high on AI euphoriaGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.Asian stock markets hit record highs, following in Wall Street’s footsteps, and oil prices retreated after Donald Trump hailed “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Tehran.on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran”.Investors bought and continue to add to positioning in the 2026 winners. There has been some buying in S&P 500 materials stocks, but it’s tech that continues to attract the bulk of flows, notably in Apple and the memory plays.9am BST: Eurozone services and composite PMIs for April9.30am BST: UK services and composite PMIs for April1.15pm BST: US ADP employment change for April Continue reading...

• Oil prices jumped above $100 per barrel and broke through $115 as Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude rising 6% amid U.S. efforts to free up shipping lanes. • The S&P 500 fell with all 11 sectors declining except energy (+0.9%); Dow Jones dropped approximately 1%, while Asia ex-Japan surged 2.8% led by KOSPI's 5% gain to new highs. • U.S. Treasury yields climbed across the curve by 7-10 basis points, with the 30-year Treasury clearing 5.0% as inflation pressures mount and the USD index moved higher above 98.

• Eternal and The India Cements among 10 stocks achieving over 100% year-on-year profit growth in Q4 FY26, fueling earnings boom narrative. • Strong results driven by cost efficiencies, demand recovery in key sectors like infrastructure and consumer goods. • These outperformers boosted investor confidence amid broader market rebound, with focus shifting to sustainable growth post-correction.

• Wall Street stocks traded mixed early Monday, May 4, 2026, as rising oil prices from Middle East conflict offset robust US corporate earnings expectations. • Oil prices edged higher after Iran's military warned it would attack US forces entering the Strait of Hormuz, following President Donald Trump's announcement to guide ships through the waterway. • Major indices remain near record highs, supported by encouraging inflation data and resilient earnings season, though investors eye the April jobs report.

• Key Indian stocks including Kotak Mahindra Bank (trading at 383.30, up 0.35%), DMart, Vodafone Idea, Nestle India, and Coal India featured prominently in market news on May 4, 2026. • Nifty Financial Services index rose 1.12% to 25,944.50, gaining 287 points, amid sector rotation post-election outcomes. • Other highlights include HUL, Bajaj Finance, and Adani stocks, with trading guides recommending buys like Gujarat Fluorochemicals and Kalyani Steels for up to 8% gains.

• Nifty Microcap 250 index jumped 16.2% in April 2026, leading midcaps at 10.7% and smallcaps at 13.4% gains. • Nifty 50 advanced 5.8% and Nifty 100 rose 7%, driven by price momentum despite macro risks and FII outflows. • Rally decoupled from fundamentals, with stable earnings but persistent currency weakness and global pressures.

• Market experts identify fundamentally strong value stocks as attractive investment opportunities following recent market corrections driven by geopolitical tensions and crude oil price volatility. • Analysts recommend disciplined investors focus on quality companies trading at depressed valuations rather than panic-driven selling, viewing current market weakness as potential entry points for long-term wealth creation. • Selective turnaround stocks and NBFC sector opportunities are highlighted as potential beneficiaries of market recovery, with emphasis on portfolio construction based on fundamental strength rather than technical indicators.

• Oil prices surged amid Iran-U.S. conflict threatening global supplies, but U.S. stocks remained resilient near record highs driven by strong earnings from Visa and Starbucks on April 29, 2026. • S&P 500 edged down 0.1%, Dow fell 286 points or 0.6%, Nasdaq up 0.1%; Visa shares jumped 8.3% on resilient consumer spending per CEO Ryan McInerney, Starbucks climbed 8.6% with higher per-visit spending in North America. • Federal Reserve officials hinted at no 2026 rate cuts, nearly eliminating investor bets and nearly favoring hikes due to inflation from energy prices; bond market trembled.

• US stocks recently reached an all-time high even as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran dominate headlines, suggesting investor confidence in economic fundamentals. • The market surge occurs amid what analysts describe as a major market disruption cycle, with oil shocks and other disruptions rattling investors before receding. • The disconnect between headline risks and market performance highlights investor focus on sustained economic growth and underlying corporate fundamentals over short-term geopolitical concerns.

• MarketBeat's stock screener identified five key financial stocks to research: Robinhood Markets, Visa, Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II, Coinbase Global, and Intuit. • These equities represent diverse segments within the financial services sector, including fintech, payment processing, and software solutions. • The stocks merit investor attention for fundamental and technical analysis.

• US stock indexes rose on April 22, 2026, with the S&P 500 up 0.9% nearing its all-time high, Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 317 points or 0.7%, and Nasdaq composite jumping 1.3%. • Brent crude oil surged 3.6% to $102.04 per barrel due to uncertainty over the US-Iran war impacting Persian Gulf petroleum flows. • Corporate earnings boosted shares: GE Vernova soared 12.1% after exceeding first-quarter profit expectations, Boston Scientific rallied 8.6%, Boeing climbed 5.7%, and Philip Morris rose 6.9%.

• Wall Street stocks closed mixed on Friday, April 10, 2026, with S&P 500 down 0.1% at 6,816.89, Dow dropping 0.6% to 47,916.47, and Nasdaq up 0.4% to 22,902.90 amid anticipation of U.S.-Iran talks post-ceasefire. • Healthcare stocks led declines with Eli Lilly falling 1.8% and Johnson & Johnson down 1.3%, offset by tech gains including Nvidia up 3% and Broadcom rising 5.3%. • Oil prices slipped while major indexes recovered most March losses from Iran conflict, now just 2.3% below S&P 500's January all-time high, though volatility persists on war news.

• US stocks recovered from early morning losses Thursday to finish higher, with the S&P 500 up 0.7%, Dow Jones up 0.8% (382 points), and Nasdaq composite up 0.8%, buoyed by optimism over a two-week ceasefire with Iran announced late Tuesday. • Israel's announcement of direct negotiations with Lebanon helped calm market concerns that the ceasefire could unravel due to Israeli bombardment of the country, reversing initial trading pessimism. • The S&P 500 remains just 2.1% below its all-time high set in January, indicating underlying market strength despite geopolitical volatility and oil price fluctuations.

Brent crude oil dropped to $93 a barrel after Trump ceasefire announcement and Iran’s pledge to reopen strait of Hormuz under its managementMiddle East crisis – live updatesFull report: US and Iran agree to provisional ceasefire with Tehran saying it will reopen strait of HormuzOil prices plunged by almost 15% after Donald Trump held off on his threat to bomb Iran into the stone ages on Tuesday night, and Iran’s foreign minister said passage through the strait of Hormuz would be allowed for the next two weeks under the management of its military.With just over an hour until his deadline was due to pass, the US president said he was holding off on threatened attacks on Iran, subject to Tehran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and reopening of the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...

• US stock indexes showed mixed performance on Monday morning with S&P 500 up 0.1%, Dow down 0.1% or 46 points, and Nasdaq up 0.3% amid ceasefire mediation efforts. • President Trump threatened to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges by Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, stating 'you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!' on social media. • Gasoline prices hit $4.12 per gallon nationally, up from below $3 before late February US-Israel attacks, pressuring the economy despite strong March jobs data.

• The US stock market has risen 16% over the past year with earnings forecasted to grow 15% annually, though the market remained flat in the past week, creating opportunities for value-focused investors. • Analysis identified 10 top undervalued stocks trading at approximately 49% discounts to their estimated fair values, including Vertex (49.8% discount), Nutanix (49.9% discount), and Roku (49.4% discount) based on cash flow assessments. • Stocks like Uranium Energy (49.2% discount), iRhythm Holdings (48.8% discount), and BillionToOne (49.5% discount) also appeared significantly undervalued, suggesting potential growth opportunities despite broader market volatility.

• Energy stocks like Exxon Mobil, Occidental Petroleum, and Valero Energy topped S&P 500 performers for the month and quarter due to oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel. • Exxon Mobil recorded its largest quarterly gain, benefiting from sustained high crude demand. • Sector strength highlights vulnerability of broader market to geopolitical risks and inflation.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite have officially entered correction territory, each falling more than 10% from their recent peaks, signaling sustained market weakness across major indices. • The S&P 500 declined 25.13 points to close at 6,343.72, down 0.4%, while deepening losses to 9.1% below its record set in early 2026; the Nasdaq composite fell 0.7% to 20,794.64. • Wall Street has recorded its fifth consecutive week of losses, driven by rising geopolitical tensions from the US-Iran conflict combined with aggressive Trump administration tariff measures heightening market uncertainty.