Asian stocks rose for a second day to head for a weekly advance as investors rotated into a broader set of companies tied to the artificial intelligence buildout. MSCI’s Asian equities gauge climbed 0.7%. Japan’s Nikkei led regional gains with a 2.3% rally. SoftBank Group Corp. surged more than 11% in Tokyo, following gains in US-listed shares of chipmaking unit Arm Holdings Plc. Lenovo Group Ltd. climbed to a 26-year high in Hong Kong after reporting strong growth in AI-related earnings. US equity-index futures also edged up, with contracts on the Nasdaq 100 Index rising as much as 0.5% before paring the advance. Still, caution over geopolitics kept gains in check. Brent rebounded after three days of declines to rise above $104 a barrel, as statements by Iran on uranium and the Strait of Hormuz pared earlier optimism over progress in the negotiations with the US.
Technology shares have surged this year as investors poured into companies viewed as critical suppliers to the global AI expansion. The momentum has helped markets look past the conflict in the Middle East, lifting equities to record highs. Stock traders are now also chasing a wider array of beneficiaries as mainstream usage of AI creates demand for hardware beyond the most-advanced chips that companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. make for Nvidia Corp. Themes emerging from an intensifying memory crunch and advances in robotics are also luring bids. Elsewhere, gold edged lower to about $4,530 an ounce. The yen hovered around the 159 level against the dollar, near its weakest level since April 30, as Japan’s key inflation gauge slowed by more than forecast. Yen traders will be closely watching trading after Tokyo hours, where a lack of participants could exacerbate exchange-rate moves. They are also on alert for the risk of intervention on Monday, when holidays from London to New York are expected to reduce market liquidity. In more geopolitical news, Iran is discussing with Oman how to set up some form of a permanent toll system that will formalize its control of maritime traffic through Hormuz. President Donald Trump said the US wants the waterway to be open and free of tolls. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were “some good signs” that a deal with Iran could be reached, adding that he expected Pakistani mediators to travel to Tehran, according to the Financial Times. Meantime, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “we will never back down” in talks.
Nikkei +2.29% Hang Seng +0.89% CSI +0.47% Shanghai +0.28% Shenzen +1.03%
Eur$ 1.1610 CNH 6.8017 CNY 6.7999 JPY 159.05 GBP 1.3425 CHF 0.7868 RUB 70.9506 TRY 45.7371 WTI$ 97.50 +1.16% Gold 4,526 +0.06% BTC 77,695 +0.06% ETH 2,135 -0.05%
S&P +031% Nasdaq +0.41% EuroStoxx +0.90% FTSE +0.42% Dax +0.85% SMI +0.65%
Macro :
- Musk’s Lieutenants Set for Billion-Dollar Fortunes on SpaceX IPO
- Turkey Looks to Calm Markets After Court Blow to Opposition
Keep an eye on :
Keep an eye on :
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- BT/ LN : Bharti Seeks UK Support to Raise BT Stake: Reuters
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- DTE GY : Deutsche Telekom to Build AI Platform for German Government
- ELUXB SS : Electrolux Announces Terms for SEK 9.06 Billion Rights Issue
- EL US : Estee Lauder and Puig End Merger Talks Without Agreement --> +10%
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- GTT FP : GTT Receives LNG Carrier Tank Design Order From Hanwha Ocean
- IMAX US : IMAX Shares Jump as WSJ Reports Company Is Exploring a Sale --> +15%
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- ML FP : Michelin: April Global Original Equipment Car Tire Market -6%
- NANO FP : Nanobiotix Offering Prices at $38.98/ADS, €33.60/Share
- NOVN SW : Generics drugmaker Sandoz calls for EU to probe alleged China dumping
- PNE3 GY : PNE Has Started Search for New Investor: Bond Prospectus
- PUIG SM : Estee Lauder and Puig End Merger Talks Without Agreement (2)
- QDT FP :
- RAND NA : LTM Offers to Buy Randstad’s Units in Europe, Australia
- REC IM : CVC, GBL Offer to Buy Recordati for €51.29/Share in Cash
- RL US : Ralph Lauren Jumps as Luxury Shoppers Spend at Full Price
- SHEL LN : Shell Set for Top Dutch Court Fight Over Call to Slash Emissions
- SOBI SS : Sobi Phase 3 Gout Treatment Study Met Primary Efficacy Endpoint
- SOI FP : Soitec Among Potential Stoxx 600 Additions, JPMorgan Says
- SPCX US : SpaceX Delays Starship Rocket Launch After Uncovering Issue
- SPCX US : Cursor Hits $3 Billion Annual Sales Rate Ahead of SpaceX Deal
- SPCX US : Musk’s Lieutenants Set for Billion-Dollar Fortunes on SpaceX IPO
- CFR SW : Richemont Launches Buyback Programme for 10 Million A Shares, Richemont FY Sales at Constant Exchange Rates Beat Estimates
- TIT IM : Telecom Italia: Mandatory Savings Share Conversion Took Effect
- UMG NA : Spotify, UMG Partner on Paid AI Remix Tool for Premium Users
- VK FP : Vallourec, Syngular Solutions Sign MOU for Bioenergy Projects