Economy

Weak Data from China, Japan Weigh on Asian Stocks

Published

5 years ago

14/11/2019

By Investors Hub

Asian stocks ended mixed on Thursday as worries over the U.S.-China trade war lingered and weak data from China and Japan stoked worries that a global slowdown is deepening.

Chinese stocks ended on a positive note as weak data, reflecting a sharper slowdown in industrial activity in October, bolstered expectations that policymakers will ramp up stimulus to boost a fragile economic recovery.

Retail sales in China grew 7.2 percent in October compared to a year ago, below the 7.9 percent increase expected by analysts. Industrial output grew 4.7 percent, which was also weaker than anticipated.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged up 4.63 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,909.87, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slid 247.77 points, or 0.9 percent, to 26,323.69 amid reports the Hong Kong government will announce a curfew for the weekend.

Japanese shares fell sharply as the yen strengthened on doubts about progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations and data showed Japan’s economy grew at the slowest pace in a year in the third quarter.

Gross domestic product grew an annualized 0.2 percent quarterly following a revised 1.8 percent expansion in the second quarter, figures from the Cabinet Office showed, as trade wars and a weaker global economy hurt exports and private consumption slowed. Economists had forecast 0.8 percent growth.

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 178.32 points, or 0.8 percent, to 23,141.55, while the broader Topix ended down 15.93 points, or 0.9 percent, at 1,684.40.

Toyota Motor, Honda Motor, Sony and Panasonic declined 1-2 percent on a stronger yen. Semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest plunged 7.6 percent and Screen Holdings gave up 1.6 percent.

On the other hand, Z Holdings, formerly known as Yahoo Japan, surged 17 percent after reports the company and messaging service Line Corp. are in talks about a merger of their businesses. Line is controlled by South Korea’s Naver Corp.

Australian markets gained ground, supported by healthcare and technology firms. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 36.70 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,735.10, while the broader All Ordinaries Index ended up 35.20 points, or 0.5 percent, at 6,840.80.

Healthcare stocks rose on defensive buying, with CSL rising 1 percent and Cochlear rallying 1.3 percent.

Afterpay Touch Group soared 7.5 percent to extend gains after announcing an A$200 million subscription by U.S.-based Coatue Management LLC. Aerial imagery business Nearmap surged 14 percent after updating its fiscal 2020 guidance.

Lender National Australia Bank tumbled 3.4 percent on going ex-dividend. Mining heavyweight BHP Group ended little changed as it named Mike Henry as its chief executive officer to succeed Andrew Mackenzie.

Australia’s inflation expectations and actual pay growth increased in November, results of a survey by the Melbourne Institute revealed today.

The expected inflation rate, which is the 30-percent trimmed mean measure, increased by 0.4 percentage points in November to 4.0 percent.

Separately, Australian consumer confidence strengthened in November, but Christmas spending is likely to be weak, survey data from Westpac showed.

The Australia’s employment situation got worse in October, with the jobless rate rising from 5.2 percent to 5.3 percent. The participation rate dropped from 66.1 percent to 66 percent, while more than 19 thousand people lost their jobs.

Economy

Okitipupa Plc, Two Others Lift Unlisted Securities Market by 0.65%

Published

4 hours ago

14/12/2024

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange recorded a 0.65 per cent gain on Friday, December 13, boosted by three equities admitted on the trading platform.

On the last trading session of the week, Okitipupa Plc appreciated by N2.70 to settle at N29.74 per share versus Thursday’s closing price of N27.04 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc added N2.49 to end the session at N42.85 per unit compared with the previous day’s N40.36 per unit, and Afriland Properties Plc gained 50 Kobo to close at N16.30 per share, in contrast to the preceding session’s N15.80 per share.

Consequently, the market capitalisation added N6.89 billion to settle at N1.062 trillion compared with the preceding day’s N1.055 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) gained 19.66 points to wrap the session at 3,032.16 points compared with 3,012.50 points recorded in the previous session.

Yesterday, the volume of securities traded by investors increased by 171.6 per cent to 1.2 million units from the 447,905 units recorded a day earlier, but the value of shares traded by the market participants declined by 19.3 per cent to N2.4 million from the N3.02 million achieved a day earlier, and the number of deals went down by 14.3 per cent to 18 deals from 21 deals.

At the close of business, Geo-Fluids Plc was the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with a turnover of 1.7 billion units worth N3.9 billion, followed by Okitipupa Plc with the sale of 752.2 million units valued at N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc with 297.3 million units sold for N5.3 million.

In the same vein, Aradel Holdings Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with the sale of 108.7 million units for N89.2 billion, trailed by Okitipupa Plc with 752.2 million units valued at N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc with a turnover of 297.3 million units worth N5.3 billion.

Economy

Naira Trades N1,533/$1 at Official Market, N1,650/$1 at Parallel Market

Published

5 hours ago

14/12/2024

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Naira appreciated further against the United States Dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) by N1.50 or 0.09 per cent to close at N1,533.00/$1 on Friday, December 13 versus the N1,534.50/$1 it was transacted on Thursday.

The local currency has continued to benefit from the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) this month.

The implementation of the forex system comes with diverse implications for all segments of the financial markets that deal with FX, including the rebound in the value of the Naira across markets.

The system instantly reflects data on all FX transactions conducted in the interbank market and approved by the CBN.

Market analysts say the publication of real-time prices and buy-sell orders data from this system has lent support to the Naira in the official market and tackled speculation.

In the official market yesterday, the domestic currency improved its value against the Pound Sterling by N12.58 to wrap the session at N1,942.19/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,954.77/£1 and against the Euro, it gained N2.44 to close at N1,612.85/€1 versus Thursday’s closing price of N1,610.41/€1.

At the black market, the Nigerian Naira appreciated against the greenback on Friday by N30 to sell for N1,650/$1 compared with the preceding session’s value of N1,680/$1.

Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was largely positive as investors banked on recent signals, including fresh support from US President-elect, Mr Donald Trump, as well as interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank (ECB).

Ripple (XRP) added 7.3 per cent to sell at $2.49, Binance Coin (BNB) rose by 3.5 per cent to $728.28, Cardano (ADA) expanded by 2.4 per cent to trade at $1.11, Litecoin (LTC) increased by 2.3 per cent to $122.56, Bitcoin (BTC) gained 1.9 per cent to settle at $101,766.17, Dogecoin (DOGE) jumped by 1.2 per cent to $0.4064, Solana (SOL) soared by 0.7 per cent to $226.15 and Ethereum (ETH) advanced by 0.6 per cent to $3,925.35, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 each.

Economy

Index Gains 0.63% as Value of Nigerian Exchange Crosses N60trn

Published

5 hours ago

14/12/2024

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

For the fourth consecutive trading session, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited closed higher on Friday by 0.63 per cent on sustained renewed buying pressure.

Apart from the energy and industrial goods sectors which closed flat, every other sector ended in the green territory, according to data obtained from the bourse.

Business Post reports that the insurance index appreciated by 1.52 per cent, the banking space improved by 0.63 per cent, and the consumer goods counter expanded by 0.46 per cent.

As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) gained 617.47 points to settle at 99,378.06 points compared with the preceding day’s 98,760.59 points and the market capitalisation went up by 375 billion to close at N60.242 trillion, in contrast to Thursday’s closing value of N59.867 trillion.

The volume of transactions on Customs Street yesterday grew by 11.13 per cent to 544.2 million shares from the 489.7 million shares transacted a day earlier.

The value of transactions increased during the session by 49.30 per cent to N10.6 billion from N7.1 billion and the number of deals went up by 1.93 per cent to 8,464 deals from the 8,304 deals posted in the previous trading session.

The busiest equity for the trading day was Japaul with the sale of 71.7 million units valued at N158.0 million, eTranzact exchanged 70.7 million units worth N477.5 million, Tantalizers sold 57.3 million units for N101.2 million, FCMB traded 33.0 million units worth N297.3 million, and Universal Insurance transacted 27.1 million units valued at N9.6 million.

A total of 36 stocks ended on the gainers’ chart, while 15 stocks finished on the losers’ table, indicating a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.

The trio of Aradel Holdings, Ikeja Hotel and Caverton gained 10.00 per cent each to trade at N550.00, N8.80, and N1.98, respectively, as Africa Prudential rose by 9.87 per cent to N17.25 and Golden Guinea Breweries soared by 9.64 per cent to N8.64.

On the flip side, Austin Laz lost 10.00 per cent to close at N1.62, ABC Transport crashed by 8.00 per cent to N1.15, Royal Exchange slumped by 7.69 per cent to 60 Kobo, Secure Electronic Technology plunged by 5.26 per cent to 54 Kobo, and The Initiates crumbled by 4.26 per cent to N2.25.