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Asian Markets Respond to Powell’s Remarks, Navigate Middle East Crisis

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Asian Markets

Asian markets experienced fluctuations on Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s suggestion that interest rates might remain higher for an extended period counteracted a rebound following the recent Middle East-induced selling.

While investors anxiously awaited Israel’s response to Iran’s missile and drone attack over the weekend, the absence of immediate retaliation shifted attention to the monetary policy stance of the US central bank.

A series of inflation and job data releases in the first quarter, which exceeded expectations, compelled investors to recalibrate their expectations regarding the number of interest rate cuts the Fed might implement this year.

Powell virtually confirmed that interest rates would probably stay elevated for a longer duration than previously anticipated. “Recent data have not increased our confidence and instead suggest that it will likely take more time than expected to regain that confidence,” he cautioned on Tuesday in Washington. “Given the robust labor market and progress on inflation so far, it is prudent to give restrictive policy additional time to be effective and to let the data and the evolving outlook guide our decisions.”

The Fed’s most recent rate guidance, indicated by the “dot plot,” implied three rate cuts for this year, with June being considered for the first reduction. Initially, traders had priced in as many as six cuts at the beginning of the year. However, current predictions suggest only one or two cuts at best, possibly commencing in July or September. Some even argue that the next move could be a rate hike if inflation does not retreat to the Fed’s two percent target.

Powell’s comments align with sentiments expressed by several Fed officials, who have advocated for caution in timing the normalization of rates. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin remarked on Tuesday that recent economic indicators did not support the notion of a soft landing for the economy. Meanwhile, Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson anticipated a decline in inflation but anticipated that rates would remain elevated due to lingering price pressures.

In New York, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined, though the Dow managed to secure a gain. Asian markets displayed mixed performances, with Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seoul declining, while Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, and Manila recorded gains.

“The hawkish stance from Powell wasn’t unexpected, given the persistent inflationary pressures, the strong state of the US economy, and the Fed’s commitment to data-driven decision-making,” remarked Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management. “Anything less than reaffirming the ‘higher for longer’ stance would likely have raised doubts about the Fed’s credibility.”

Traders remained vigilant regarding developments in the Middle East after Israeli Army Chief General Herzi Halevi warned of a response to Iran’s attack on Saturday, heightening concerns about a broader regional conflict.

Tehran stated that the attack was in retaliation for a strike on the consular annex of its Damascus embassy, which resulted in the death of seven Revolutionary Guards, although it indicated that the matter could be considered closed.

Despite tensions, trading activity remained relatively calm on Wednesday, with oil prices inching down despite crises in the Middle East, Ukraine, and OPEC output cuts.

“Our base scenario is one where tensions remain contained in the Middle East, avoiding a broader conflict that disrupts oil supply,” commented Han Zhong Liang of Standard Chartered.

– Key figures around 0250 GMT –

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 percent at 38,404.45 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 16,176.21

Shanghai – Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 3,038.92

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.65 yen from 154.72 yen on Tuesday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0634 from $1.0622

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2439 from $1.2426

Euro/pound: UP at 85.48 pence from 85.45 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.5 percent at $84.90 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.5 percent at $89.59 per barrel

New York – Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 37,798.97 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 1.8 percent at 7,820.36 (close)

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Indices Negative Amidst Turnover Hikes

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dse bourse indices turnover dhak stock exchange stock market

Dhaka Stock Market DSE, Bourse on the second working day of the week, 30th September, ended with a negative performance in Indices and a hike in Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.

503 crore 90 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 22 crore 58 lakh more tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 29th September, Shares worth Tk 481 crores 31 lakh shares were traded last time, Sunday.

The benchmark DSEX lost 33.61 points or 5,624 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 7.36 point or 1,263 and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 9.57 points or 2,053.

Of the issues traded, 72 advanced, 299 declined and 25 remained unchanged.

Shahjibazar Power Company Limited ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 4.00 paisa or 9.76 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 45.00 paisa.

Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 1.80 paisa or 7.56 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 22.00 paisa.

DSE topped on trade is Pragati Life Insurance Limited 25 crore 35 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.

A total of 27 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 1 crore 50 lakh 42 thousand 956 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 65 crore 60 lakh taka

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National Polymer Announce Their Dividends & Q2 Financials

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One of the Listed companies, National Polymer Limited has recommended 10.50% Cash Dividend for the year ended June 30, 2024.

It has reported Consolidated EPS of Tk 2.27 paisa, and Consolidated NAV per share of Tk 30.63 for the year ended March 31, 2024.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company will be held on December 18, through the digital platform. The record date for this has been fixed at October 22.

The Company also discloses its financial reports for the second quarter, (April – June 24).

As per the company’s consolidated life revenue account for April to June 2024, the excess of total income over total expenses, including claims (surplus), stood at Tk 1,394.24 million. This marks a significant increase from the surplus of Tk 823.68 million during the same period in 2023.

For the first half of 2024, from January to June, the company reported a surplus of Tk 2,177.57 million, compared to Tk 1,290.39 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Additionally, the Life Insurance Fund balance as of June 30, 2024, reached Tk 55,188.62 million, showing a net increase of Tk 5,892.25 million from Tk 49,296.37 million on June 30, 2023.

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Beacon Pharma Declares Their Dividends

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One of the Listed companies, Beacon Pharmaceuticals PLC has recommended 20% Cash dividend and 10% Cash Dividend to Sponsor Shareholder and Directors for the year ended June 30, 2024.

It has reported EPS of Tk 2.26 paisa, and NAV per share of Tk. 26.37 for the year ended June 30, 2024.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company will be held on December 23, through the digital platform. The record date for this has been fixed at October 27.

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