Market Pulse - Asia
Investec's Ian Gordon downgrades StanChart to 'sell'
Analysts at Investec took their recommendation on shares of StanChart down from 'hold' to 'sell', telling clients the outlook for earnings per share and return on capital are now less convincing.
Asia report: Markets mostly lower ahead of G7 meeting
Markets in Asia finished mixed on Friday, taking their cue from a red Thursday overnight on Wall Street as focus turned towards the G7 finance ministers meeting in Italy.
Asia report: Most markets higher as oil prices rise, RBNZ stands pat
Markets in Asia finished mostly higher on Thursday, as traders focussed on improving oil prices and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand stood pat on its record low interest rates.
Deutsche Bank lifts HSBC target price, retains 'hold'
Deutsche Bank bumped up its target price on shares of HSBC, hailing the restart of dividend payments in the US but cautioned that investors would need to be patient when it came to expectations for capital upstreaming from the States.
Asia report: Markets mixed as Moon wins Korean presidency
Markets in Asia finished mixed on Wednesday, with investors focusing on the inauguration of the new South Korean president Moon Jae-in, and digesting the sudden firing of FBI director James Comey in the US.
Liberal candidate Moon Jae-in wins South Korean presidential election
Moon Jae-in, a leftist liberal candidate, has won South Korea's presidential election following the impeachment of previous leader Park Geun-hye.
Asia report: Markets lower ad Koreans head to polls
Markets in Asia finished largely weaker on Tuesday, as investors had their eyes locked on the South Korean presidential election and the Australian federal budget, following a stellar start to the week on Monday.
Glencore best positioned among peers, Macquarie says
Glencore is best-positioned among peers in terms of its commodity exposure, cost performance and potential for cash returns, analysts at Macquarie said.
Russian energy minister backs oil output cut deal
Russia's energy chief supports extending last November's deal by the world's largest oil producers to rein in their combined output.
Sector movers: Miners dragged lower by another sharp fall in copper, base metals
Weaker than expected Chinese foreign trade numbers for the month of April and widespread weakness overnight in commodity prices saw miners buried under a pile of sell orders again.
Asia report: Markets move higher on Macron landslide in France
Most markets in Asia were higher on Monday, after a landslide victory for French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron in that country’s run-off election on Sunday, defeating controversial far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
Chinese exports and imports slow more than expected in April
Chinese export and imports slowed in April amid a small increase in capital outflows but economists were optimistic on both counts.
Asia report: Markets mostly lower as commodities fall
Markets in Asia were mostly lower on Friday, with an early fall in commodities prices putting the kibosh on sentiment, as traders kept their wallets shut ahead of the US nonfarm payrolls report.
Brent crude futures hit key technical support
Crude oil futures are sliding lower and testing technical support as markets wait anxiously for signs that the world's largest oil producers will extend their 30 November pact to slash production and keep prices near their recent levels.
Europe close: Cac-40 finishes at nine-year high
Poll results showing Macron's followers are on track to become the largest party in the lower house of the French parliament sent France's top flight index to a nine-year high.
Asia report: Markets finish lower as metal prices tumble
Markets in Asia finished mostly lower on Thursday, as metal prices took a dive and after the US Federal Reserve stuck to its guns overnight, remaining hawkish on the state of the American economy.
VTB Capital eyes return to dividends at Evraz, reiterates 'Buy'
Analysts at VTB Capital reiterated a 'Buy' recommendation on shares of Evraz following the sale of its Nakhodka Trade Sea Port subsidiary which, they said, may give the steel-maker the financial power to pay dividends.
Shell keeps first quarter dividend steady
Royal Dutch Shell's net income rose across almost all its main units at the start of the year thanks to the rebound in oil prices, with the company touting how its cash dividend was fully covered for a third consecutive quarter.
Rio Tinto aiming for $5bn of free cash flow in productivity improvements
Rio Tinto is aiming to deliver $5bn of free cash flow via productivity improvements over five years.
Kuwait Energy plots LSE listing to finance Iraq investment
Kuwait Energy announced its intention to float in London to raise $150m to finance its bid to become the leading independent oil and gas exploration company in the MENA region.