Stocks
Equities sink, oil rallies on fears of Iran-Israel conflict
Asian stocks fell and oil prices climbed Tuesday on growing fears of a wider war in the Middle East after Israel’s army chief vowed a response to Iran’s unprecedented attack on his country at the weekend.
The selling came after Wall Street’s three main indexes tanked in response to forecast-beating US retail sales data that reinforced the view that the world’s top economy remained in rude health and further dented hopes for interest rate cuts this year.
Traders were also digesting a mixed bag of figures showing Chinese growth easily beat expectations in the first three months of the year but retail sales and industrial production came in well below par.
All eyes are on the Middle East after Tehran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at its regional enemy, saying the attack was retaliation for an April 1 strike on the consular annex of its Damascus embassy that killed seven Revolutionary Guards including two generals.
While air defence systems destroyed the vast majority of the barrage and Iran said “the matter can be deemed concluded”, Israel’s army chief General Herzi Halevi sounded a note of warning, fuelling worries of a dangerous escalation.
“This launch of so many (Iranian) missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response,” Halevi told troops at the Nevatim military base, which was hit in Iran’s Saturday barrage.
However, he added that the military would not be distracted from its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Warren Patterson, at ING Groep, said the prospect of a response by Tel Aviv “means that this uncertainty and tension will linger for quite some time”.
“The more escalation we see, the more likely we are to see oil supply from the region impacted.”
Oil prices rose in Asian trade, having slipped Monday on hopes for a de-escalation following US calls for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “take the win” and forgo a counterattack.
In early trade, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Wellington, Manila and Jakarta were all sharply down.
– China’s mixed data –
Investors appeared to ignore figures showing China’s economy grew 5.3 percent in the first three months of the year, well above the 4.6 percent predicted in an AFP survey of analysts.
However, other data reinforced worries about the outlook, with industrial production and retail sales coming in well below forecasts, ramping up worries about the prospects for the next quarter.
“China data appears to be strong on the headline, but the details are weak, said Saxo’s Charu Chanana.
“This would suggest that the economy needs more support, and markets will continue to position for a weak yuan.”
The losses in Asia followed a big sell-off on Wall Street, which was dragged down by tech giants including Amazon, Apple and Alphabet.
That came after figures showed March retail sales beat expectations in yet another indication that the US economy remains strong despite two-decade-high interest rates.
The reading followed news that inflation came in above estimates for the third time in a row last month, while jobs creation was also much stronger than forecast, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to hold off cutting interest rates.
Investors are now betting on just two reductions this year, compared with six pencilled in at the beginning of January.
And UBS has warned that borrowing costs could even go up if inflation is not brought under control.
“If the (economic) expansion remains resilient and inflation gets stuck at 2.5 percent or higher, there would be real risk the (Fed policy board) resumes raising rates again by early next year,” said UBS strategists including Jonathan Pingle and Bhanu Baweja.
Meanwhile, San Francisco Fed boss Mary Daly said there was no rush to reduce rates just yet, adding that she wanted to be confident inflation was coming down to the bank’s two percent target.
Treasuries hit new year-to-date highs Monday after the retail sales report.
With rates seen staying higher for longer, the dollar continued to strengthen, and briefly hit a new 34-year high of 154.45 yen, putting the focus on Japanese authorities amid speculation they will step in to support the currency.
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said Tuesday that “we are closely monitoring the latest developments”.
– Key figures around 0300 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.1 percent at 39,405.58 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.5 percent at 16,346.71
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.5 percent at 3,011.12
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.9 percent at $86.14 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.8 percent at $90.80 per barrel
Dollar/yen: UP at 154.36 yen from 154.24 yen on Monday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0608 from $1.0626
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2423 from $1.2449
Euro/pound: UP at 85.38 pence from 85.31 pence
New York – Dow: DOWN 0.7 percent at 37,735.11 (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,965.53 (close)
Dhaka Stock Exchange DSE, Bourse on the last working day of the week, 16th May, ended with a drop in Indices and hike in Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
676 crore 79 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 150 crore 46 lakh more tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 15th May , Shares worth Tk 526 crores 33 lakh shares were traded last time, Wednesday.
The benchmark DSEX lost 9.98 points or 5,517 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 0.80 points or 1,212, and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 3.79 points or 1,973.
Of the issues traded, 122 advanced, 215 declined and 57 remained unchanged.
MBL 1st Mutual Fund ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 0.50 paisa or 10 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 5.50 paisa.
Sonali Paper & Board Mills Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 11.80 paisa or 3.00 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 382.50 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is Asiatic Laboratories Limited 46 crore 23 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 43 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 3 crore 22 lakh 1 thousand 792 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 49 crore 85 lakh taka
Dhaka Stock Exchange DSE, Bourse on the fourth working day of the week, 15th May, ended with a drop in Indices and Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
526 crore 33 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 138 crore 3 lakh less tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 14th May , Shares worth Tk 664 crores 36 lakh shares were traded last time, Tuesday.
The benchmark DSEX lost 58.22 points or 5,527 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 12.79 points or 1,212, and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 14.14 points or 1,977.
Of the issues traded, 61 advanced, 301 declined and 33 remained unchanged.
Reliance One the first scheme of Reliance Insurance Mutual Fund ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 1.50 paisa or 8.77 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 18.60 paisa.
Bay Leasing & Investment Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 0.30 paisa or 3.00 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 9.70 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is Alif Industries Limited 19 crore 21 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 45 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 68 lakh 31 thousand 91 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 37 crore 38 lakh taka
Dhaka Stock Exchange DSE, Bourse on the third working day of the week, 14th May, ended with a drop in Indices and Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
664 crore 36 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 17 crore 86 lakh less tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 9th May , Shares worth Tk 968 crores 2 lakh shares were traded last time, Monday.
The benchmark DSEX lost 81.14 points or 5,585 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 15.76 points or 1,225, and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 26.04 points or 1,991.
Of the issues traded, 31 advanced, 343 declined and 25 remained unchanged.
Reliance One the first scheme of Reliance Insurance Mutual Fund ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 1.50 paisa or 9.55 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 17.10 paisa.
Union Insurance Company Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 4.00 paisa or 9.32 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 38.90 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is eGeneration Limited 28 crore 18 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 45 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 74 lakh 95 thousand 900 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 34 crore 92 lakh taka
