Stocks
Asian markets boosted by Fed chief’s rate cut talk
Most Asian equities rose with the yen on Monday after US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell said “the time has come” to start cutting interest rates, lining up the central bank for a move as soon as next month.
The comments provided investors with an extra boost and helped put the market turmoil earlier in August behind them, though analysts warned to be on guard for any unexpected data that could burst the optimistic bubble.
Traders were also keeping an eye on developments in the Middle East after a lare-up in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah that fanned fears of an escalation in the region.
In a much-anticipated speech to a symposium of central bankers at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Powell said: “The time has come for policy to adjust.
“The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks,” he added.
“My confidence has grown that inflation is on a sustainable path back to two percent,” he said, referring to the central bank’s target.
Equities had already been on the rise on expectations the Fed would start cutting from two-decade highs next month, with debate now mostly centred on how big the reduction would be and how many more would follow.
Traders are betting on around one percentage point of reductions before the end of the year.
“Importantly there was a notable absence of caveats such as ‘gradual/gradualism’ as used by other Fed officials,” said National Australia Bank’s Tapas Strickland.
“The absence of caveats is likely what excited markets.”
The remarks helped push all three main indexes more than one percent higher in New York.
Most of Asia followed suit on Monday, with Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Wellington all in the green.
However, there were losses in Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul.
“Yep, the Fed is ready to start slicing those interest rates. With the labour market cooling off and inflation finally inching closer to that elusive two percent target, Powell served up exactly what Wall Street had been drooling over,” said independent analyst Stephen Innes.
“Right now, investors are in dreamland — having their cake, eating it too The dream scenario? A series of rate cuts that somehow dodge the recession bullet.”
However, he warned that “the market’s next big move hinges on whether the latest US data points to a gentle slowdown or the first tremors of a full- blown recession. The stakes? They couldn’t be higher”.
Attention will now turn to the release of a string of economic figures, including US jobs, inflation and personal income.
Tokyo stocks were weighed by a strengthening yen, which rallied Friday on Powell’s comments and an indication from Bank of Japan chief Kazuo Ueda that it could hike rates again if inflation and the economy performed as expected.
The yen was sitting at less than 144 per dollar in early trade.
Traders were keeping a nervous eye on the Middle East after Israel launched air strikes into Lebanon on Sunday, saying it had destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket launchers and thwarted a major attack.
The Lebanese group said it had unleashed a drone and rocket barrage of its own.
The news sent the price of oil higher, though the gains were tempered by hopes that the crisis will not develop into a full-blown war taking in other regional powers including Iran.
For its part, Hezbollah said its operation “was completed and accomplished”.
Both main contracts rose Monday, extending Friday’s more than two percent rally that came on the back of Powell’s interest rate comments.
– Key figures around 0230 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.1 percent at 37,944.68 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.9 percent at 17,775.80
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,850.49
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 143.62 yen from 144.34 yen on Friday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1199 from $1.1193
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3219 from $1.3209
Euro/pound: UP at 84.72 pence from 84.70 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.8 percent at $75.39 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.6 percent at $78.65 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 41,175.08 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 8,327.78 (close)
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.
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.
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has removed three audit firms from its panel for their failure to secure enlistment with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), according to a notice issued today.
The firms—A Hoque & Company, FAMES & R, and SK Barua & Company Chartered Accountants—were delisted following the FRC’s request. In December last year, the FRC published a list of enlisted audit firms and subsequently, in February, requested the BSEC to remove any firms that were not included on that list.
BSEC regulations mandate that financial statements signed by auditors outside its approved panel will not be accepted. With the removal of these three firms, the total number of audit firms on the BSEC panel has been reduced from 48 to 45.
Sources from the FRC revealed that 15-20 audit firms failed to secure enlistment last year, and approximately 45 chartered accountants are currently under restrictions imposed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Although the delisted firms can no longer audit issuer companies or listed securities, they are allowed to complete audit and assurance services that were initiated before their removal, the BSEC clarified.
