Stocks
Asian markets open higher after US tech gains
Asian markets opened mostly up on Thursday, after higher-than-expected earnings from tech giant Nvidia and as investors weigh Fed minutes signalling most US officials are in no rush to cut rates.
Highly anticipated earnings results from US chip titan Nvidia beat expectations late Wednesday, with the firm reporting a quarterly profit of $12.3 billion on record-high revenue driven by demand for its AI-powering chips.
Following a mixed day on Wall Street, the company announced record revenue of $22.1 billion in the quarter that ended late January and $60.9 billion for the fiscal year.
Analysts say its bumper profits could drive up Asian markets, with Tokyo stocks moving towards a record high on Nvidia’s gains.
“As goes Nvidia, so goes the market,” Kim Forrest, chief investment officer of Bokeh Capital Partners, told Bloomberg.
Its earnings report “does confirm the narrative that AI is going to continue to be strong for the foreseeable future. This narrative supported the markets last year, why wouldn’t it do the same this year?” Forrest added.
Stephen Innes, of SPI Asset Management, said Asian equities were “poised for a potential rise” on Thursday, supported by Nvidia’s gains in after-hours US trading, which saw its shares rise more than eight percent.
The firm’s first-quarter outlook exceeded analysts’ forecasts, he noted.
Hong Kong stocks were down in early trade, while Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Manila and Wellington were all up. Shanghai and Sydney were flat.
London was dragged lower Wednesday by HSBC, whose share price plunged more than eight percent after the lender revealed a shock $3-billion impairment on Chinese activities.
Investors were looking to the European Central Bank’s minutes of its most recent meeting on eurozone monetary policy, to be released later Thursday, for clues on when it could start cutting rates.
In the United States, January’s Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes showed that officials had mixed views over the timing of cutting interest rates — but most members were more concerned about moving too early.
Traders will “be glossing over the hawkishly skewed details of the US Federal Reserve’s January meeting”, according to Innes.
“These minutes revealed that policymakers are concerned about the potential risks of cutting interest rates too soon.”
Key figures around 0230 GMT
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 38,805.65
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.4 percent at 16,435.80
Shanghai – Composite: FLAT at 2,950.59
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0822 from $1.0817 on Wednesday
Dollar/yen: UP at 150.38 yen from 150.24 yen
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2635 from $1.2630
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.65 pence from 85.67 pence
West Texas Intermediate: FLAT at $77.92 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: FLAT at $83.02 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 38,612.24 points (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.7 percent at 7,662.51 (close)
Dhaka Stock Market DSE, Bourse on the last working day of the week, 25th July, ended with a hike in Indices and Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
497 crore 34 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 337 crore 97 lakh more tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, July 24th, Shares worth Tk 159 crores 37 lakh shares were traded last time, Wednesday.
The benchmark DSEX increased 62.81 points or 5,413 The Shariah-based index DSES added 13.81 points or 1,183 and the blue-chip index DS30 gained by 24.25 points or 1,932.
Of the issues traded, 286 advanced, 66 declined and 40 remained unchanged.
Techno Drugs Limited ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 3.80 paisa or 9.87 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 42.30 paisa.
Rangpur Foundry Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 5.40 paisa or 2.98 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 175.70 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is Square Pharmaceuticals PLC 35 crore 9 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 28 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 82 lakh 94 thousand 29 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 21 crore 92 lakh taka
One of the listed companies, Eastland Insurance Company Limited discloses its financial reports for the second quarter, (April – June 24).
The company’s earnings per share (EPS) Tk 0.27 paisa in Q2 of the current financial year (April – June 24). EPS was Tk. 0.41 for January-June 2024 as against Tk. 1.47 for the same period last year. EPS was Tk 0.80 paisa during the same period last year. NAV per share was Tk. 20.85 as of June 30, 2024.
One of the listed companies, Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC discloses its financial reports for the second quarter, (April – June 24).
The company’s Consolidated earnings per share (EPS) Tk 1.50 paisa in Q2 of the current financial year (April – June 24). Consolidated EPS was Tk. 1.50 for January-June 2024 as against Tk. 1.47 for the same period last year. EPS was Tk 0.80 paisa during the same period last year. Consolidated NAV per share was Tk. 20.85 as of June 30, 2024.
