Asian stocks rose at the end of another volatile week with a report leading to some optimism that more traffic may be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz. Regional shares followed a recovery in US equities following news on Thursday that Iran is drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor traffic through the key waterway, having effectively shut it down since the start of the war. Trading was relatively light in the region with many key markets closed for holidays. MSCI’s benchmark Asia Pacific Index gained 0.7% with South Korea’s Kospi rising 2.9%, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbing 1.1%. China’s CSI 300 Index reversed an earlier advance to drop 0.6%. Treasury futures were little changed in Asia with the cash market shut until US hours, when it will be open for a half day. The dollar crept higher against most of its Group-of-10 peers. Asian markets shut for holidays on Friday included Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia. US stock markets will also be closed for Good Friday, though the government is still scheduled to publish a slate of economic data, including March nonfarm payrolls. Oil had rallied above $110 a barrel Thursday after President Donald Trump issued fresh threats against Iranian infrastructure in an effort to pressure Tehran in negotiations. West Texas Intermediate surged 11%, while the global Brent benchmark settled near $109. US stocks had started off Thursday deep in the red after a speech from Trump late Wednesday did little to reassure investors that the war in the Middle East was nearing a swift resolution, though he has previously set a two-to-three-week timeline for ending the conflict. On Thursday, the president issued fresh threats on Iranian infrastructure in a bid to pressure Tehran in negotiations. The higher close for the S&P 500 on Thursday ran counter to a pattern of late-week selloffs that have hit the market ever since the war began, as nervous investors unwind positions that could be upended if weekend developments threaten to worsen the hit to the global economy. Economists estimate nonfarm payrolls increased 65,000 last month after falling 92,000 in February, according to a Bloomberg survey.
Nikkei +1.26% Hang Seng Closed CSI -0.73% Shanghai -1.02% Shenzen -1.39%
Eur$ 1.1530 CNH 6.8846 CNY 6.8824 JPY 159.62 GBP 1.3224 CHF 0.7988 RUB 80.4813 TRY 44.5698 WTI$ 111.54 Gold 4,676 +0.37% BTC 66,690 -0.34% ETH 2,057 -0.54%
S&P -0.18% Nasdaq -0.21% EuroStoxx Closed FTSE Closed Dax Closed SMI Closed
Macro :
- US Allies Work on Plan B for Hormuz Strait If Trump Walks Away
- Systematic Funds Slash Exposure to Stocks, Deutsche Bank Says
- Systematic Funds Slash Exposure to Stocks, Deutsche Bank Says
- Trump to Impose 100% Tariff on Some Drugs as Trade Barriers Rise
- First Prediction Market Note Offers Nvidia Bets With Less Risk
- SpaceX Is Said to Target More Than $2 Trillion Valuation in IPO
- Hegseth Asked US Army Chief to Step Down, Pentagon Says
- Macron Says France, South Korea Can Work Toward Hormuz Stability
- S. Korea, France to Cooperate in Nuke Power, AI, Mineral Supply
Keep an eye on :
Keep an eye on :
- AF FP : Lufthansa, Air France-KLM Submit Bids for Portugal’s TAP (2)
- AVGO US : Broadcom Names Amie Thuener as New CFO
- ABX CN : Barrick Sees it Necessary to Slow Development of Reko Diq
- BRE IM : Brembo May Consider Buying Tenneco’s Suspension Unit: Corriere
- IAG LN : British Airways Owner IAG Abandons Pursuit of Stake in TAP
- YACHT IM : Ferretti Board Says KKCG Maritime’s Revised Offer Not Fair
- DoctoLib : Startup Doctolib’s Value Falls 38% in Secondary Sale (Correct)
- SATS US : Iridium, Viasat Stocks Surge. Why a Bid for a Satellite Rival Is Good News.
- XOM US : Italy to Get LNG From QatarEnergy-Exxon’s Golden Pass: Reuters
- EXENS FP : Exosens reçoit une commande record de solutions d'imagerie numérique pour drones intercepteurs
- LLY US : Eli Lilly’s Foundayo to Be Offered on TrumpRx, CBS Reports
- GRF SM : Grifols’ Canadian License Restricted After Plasma Deaths
- IPI US : Intrepid Potash Sells Intrepid South Ranch for $70 Million
- IPN FP : Ipsen Says Beech Tree Gets Exemption From Tender Offer
- INW IM : INWIT 4Q Ebit Misses Estimates
- LBTYA US : Liberty Global Is Said to Tap Goldman Sachs for Wyre Stake Sale
- LHA GY : Lufthansa, Air France-KLM Submit Bids for Portugal’s TAP
- MAHAA SS : Maha Capital Closes KEO World Takeover, Raises $27 Million Via Share Issuance
- MSFT US : Microsoft Hit ‘Audacious’ Copilot Goals After Wall Street Input
- NEX FP : Nexans, Sonepar Fined in France Over Cable Import Rights
- Open AI : OpenAI Confirms Acquisition of TBPN
- PSKY US : Jeff Shell Begins Preliminary Talks to Exit as Paramount President
- PSKY US : Jeff Shell Begins Preliminary Talks to Exit as Paramount President
- Space X IPO : SpaceX Is Said to Target More Than $2 Trillion Valuation in IPO
- VOYG US : Space, Satellite Stocks Rise on $2T SpaceX IPO, Moon Mission
- TEF SM : Telefonica Dividend Projection Rises 100% in Bloomberg Model
- HO FP : French Military Orders Fifth Frigate From Naval Group
- TTE FP : Shell, Total Among Those Eyeing US Gulf Field Stake: Rtrs
- TTE FP : Shell, Total Among Those Eyeing US Gulf Field Stake: Rtrs
- UAL US : United Airlines to Increase Checked Bag Fees by $10
- VTURA NO : Ventura Offshore Secures Contract Extensions for Drilling Rigs