Market Pulse - Asia
China fourth quarter GDP growth beats forecasts, but some economists sceptical
China's economy grew more quickly than expected in 2017, according to both official and private sector estimates, but some economists believed the official figures belied the extent of the slowdown in the fourth quarter.
Ferrexpo margins to hit their high-water mark in 2018, Credit Suisse says
Credit Suisse boosted its target price for shares of iron ore miner Ferrexpo by well over a third on the back of the recovery in prices seen over the past year and after the pellet premium surprised to the upside.
Asia close: Hang Seng tops 2007 highs
Equities in the Asia Pacific region raced ahead on Wednesday, led by gains in Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index, which topped its pre-crisis highs.
SoftBank may sell 30% of telecoms arm in £13bn IPO
Japanese company SoftBank is studying floating 30% of its mobile phone business SoftBank Corp. in Tokyo and overseas, possibly in the autumn.
Asia close: Currency moves in focus across region
Japanese stocks brushed-off strength in the yen on Monday, but their Chinese peers were not quite as lucky.
Reports say China may slow US Treasury purchases, trade tensions cited
Longer-term US Treasury yields jumped to near their 2017-highs following a report that Beijing might be looking to slow or stop its purchases of American government debt.
Chinese consumer prices rise less than forecast in December
Chinese consumer prices fell short of forecasts in December alongside a drop in factory gate inflation in the Asian giant to a 13-month low, possibly opening the way up for looser central bank policy.
Asia close: Japanese, Vietnamese issues outperform
Equities around the Asia Pacific region finished the session little changed for the most part, despite record closes overnight on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite.
Asia close: Stocks rise amid heightened risk appetite
Asian stocks were mostly higher at the start of the week, even as traders and analysts continued to ponder aloud about the underpinnings of recent equity market gains.
China FX reserves rise to highest level in over a year in December
China's foreign exchange reserves hit their highest level since September 2016 last month as interbank liquidity tightened, analysts said.
2018 outlook for miners compelling, Barclays says
The outlook for miners remains "compelling", analysts at Barclays told clients, pointing to a raft of positive drivers for the sector.
Saudi Aramco IPO looks more likely as change in legal status paves the way for flotation
Saudi Aramco, the Dhahran-based petroleum and natural gas company which had recently been forced to deny plans that it was abandoning its $2tn flotation of 5% of the company, received a shot in the arm on Friday after a royal decree converted the firm into a joint stock company, allowing it to expand its shareholder base beyond the Saudi Arabian government.
Boardriders acquires Billabong in $155m takeover bid
Iconic Australian surfwear brand Billabong was sold to rival Boardriders on Friday as part of an estimated $155m takeover bid aimed at turning around the Queensland-based group after turning a profit in just one of the last five years.
Citi tells clients to overweight emerging market and European stocks
Citi predicts another positive year for stocks around the world on the back of rising corporate earnings.
North Korea agrees to talks after the South and US postpone military drills
North Korea has agreed to hold the first official talks in more than two years with its neighbour to the South after Seoul and Washington postponed their annual large-scale military exercises until after the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Jet Airways pilots grounded after mid-flight altercation
Jet Airways confirmed reports that a "misunderstanding" between two cockpit crew members on a New Year's Day flight from London to Mumbai led to both pilots being grounded, adding that those involved had been stripped of their duties, pending an investigation.
Asia close: Regional gauge at record high as Japanese shares surge
Asian stocks continued to climb, led by a surge in Japanese issues that pushed the MSCI Asia Pacific Index to a record high, as investors in Tokyo played catch-up with the rest of the world following the New Years holiday.
China's services sector improves, Caixin survey shows
China's services sector grew at its fastest pace in more than three years in December, according to a survey released overnight.
Asia close: Regional stocks continue upwards push, PBoC sets stronger fix
Asian stocks continued to push higher, tracking record closes on Wall Street overnight and amid a small bounce in the US dollar.
Asia close: Stocks storm out of the gates
Asian stocks stormed out of the gates at the start of the New Year, despite the release of mixed readings on factory sector activity in China and on the heels of a possible overture to deescalate tensions on the Korean peninsula from the North's leader, Kim Jong Un.