THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Asian stocks unable to track Wall St higher, yen holds at 40-year low With optimism that the US-Iran crisis will eventually come to an end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen, attention has returned to central bank monetary policy and the future of the AI boom. The tech sector -- which has led a global rally across markets and pushed several companies to record highs -- has taken a pummelling of late on fears over stretched valuations, interest rates and when traders will see returns on their investments. But a rush to pick up bargains following that selloff fuelled a spike in New York, where the Dow hit a fresh peak and the Nasdaq climbed more than two percent. That came thanks to strong finishes for Magnificent Seven plays including Amazon, Meta and Nvidia. "After last week's record selling in big tech, buyers returned to the same names they were throwing overboard only days earlier," said SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes. "That does not mean the AI trade has suddenly been cured. It means the patient stopped bleeding long enough for the surgeons to begin bidding the stock back up. "For Asia, and especially Korea and Japan, that is the handoff." After a shaky start, Asian …

Why KOSPI volatility prolongs 'Korea discount' Dealers work at Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, March 3. Yonhap Peter S. Kim, global investment strategist at KB Financial Group HONG KONG — When U.S. and Israeli forces launched massive airstrikes against Iran, Korean markets swung to extremes. On March 3, the first trading day after the attack, the benchmark KOSPI tumbled 7.24 percent, tripping a sell-side circuit breaker. Losses deepened the following day, with the index down as much as 12 percent at one point — worse than the declines seen after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The rout quickly reversed. On March 5, KOSPI surged 9.63 percent, its biggest one-day gain on record, activating a buy-side circuit breaker. Such swings contribute to the “Korea discount,” said Peter S. Kim, a global investment strategist at KB Financial Group, referring to the chronic undervaluation of Korean-listed companies. Kim, who also serves as senior managing director and head of the global business and wholesale division at KB Securities, has over 30 years of experience in the industry. He has held leadership roles on both the buy and sell side, ranging from country CEO of HSBC Securities Korea to …

Japan's Nikkei 225 index closes down 5.2% as higher oil prices spur ... The Asahi Shimbun Business article THE ASSOCIATED PRESS March 9, 2026 at 16:00 JST The Tokyo Stock Exchange in Chuo Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo) BANGKOK--Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index plunged more than 5% and other Asian markets also tumbled Monday after oil prices soared to nearly $120 a barrel, casting a shadow over economies heavily dependent on imported crude and gas from the region. The futures for the S&P 500, Nasdaq composite index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were trading more than 1% lower after dropping more than 2% late Sunday. A Chinese special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, called for an end to the attacks and said strikes on non-military targets and civilians should be condemned. Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned against hoarding, panic buying and collusion between refiners and gas stations. “Please respond proactively to the growing volatility in the financial and foreign exchange markets, which are the lifeblood of our economy," Lee said. Oil prices rocketed higher after both sides in the war struck new targets over the weekend, including civi…

Asian markets open on a subdued note as US stock futures edge lower Asian markets open on a subdued note as US stock futures edge lower Investor focus is on the yen after Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama issued a fresh warning on currency movements. The yen weakened to the key threshold of 155 per dollar on Wednesday, inching closer to levels where authorities last intervened in markets. By Bloomberg November 13, 2025, 6:45:17 AM IST (Updated) 2 Min Read US equity-index futures edged lower and Asian markets opened on a subdued note after a lacklustre Wall Street session, as investors stayed cautious with limited economic data clouding the outlook for Federal Reserve policy. Contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 index retreated 0.2%, after the underlying gauges were largely unchanged on Wednesday. However, Bloomberg’s gauge for the Magnificent Seven fell 1.2%, extending declines for a second straight session. Treasuries steadied in early trading Thursday after yields fell across the curve. The moves were more pronounced in the commodities market as gold and copper advanced on Fed rate-cut bets. Oil extended its drop after slumping by the most since June as a key ma…

Asian stocks rise on US tech rally, yen stays weak Asian equities advanced on Wednesday as a technology-led rally on Wall Street lifted risk appetite, withJapan’s Nikkei 225climbing1.79%andSouth Korea’s Kospigaining1.52%, while the yen traded near a four-decade low around162.65per dollar. Note: figures are approximate; final exchange data not available at time of publication. Note: figures are approximate; final exchange data not available at time of publication. Note: figures are approximate; final market data not available at time of publication. Asian stocks rose as a strong US technology rally lifted sentiment, with gains in the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and semiconductor shares spilling over into Japan and South Korea. The yen is trading around 162.65 per dollar after hitting a roughly 40-year low, and traders are watching the 163 level as a potential trigger for Japanese authorities to consider intervention. Steady US job openings, firm consumer spending and higher consumer confidence have reinforced views of economic resilience, supporting equities even as elevated inflation keeps the risk of future Fed rate hikes alive. The stocks mentioned in this article are not recomme…

Asian stocks unable to track Wall St higher, yen holds at 40-year low Tech firms bounced back in Asia on Tuesday, tracking a rebound in their counterparts on Wall Street following the hefty selling of the past two weeks, while the yen held around a four-decade low against the dollar. With optimism that the US-Iran crisis will eventually come to an end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen, attention has returned to central bank monetary policy and the future of the AI boom. The tech sector -- which has led a global rally across markets and pushed several companies to record highs -- has taken a pummelling of late on fears over stretched valuations, interest rates and when traders will see returns on their investments. But a rush to pick up bargains following that selloff fuelled a spike in New York, where the Dow hit a fresh peak and the Nasdaq climbed more than two percent. That came thanks to strong finishes for Magnificent Seven plays including Amazon, Meta and Nvidia. "After last week's record selling in big tech, buyers returned to the same names they were throwing overboard only days earlier," said SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes. "That does not mean the AI trade has su…

Asian markets open firm as Japan, Korea lead tech-driven rally Asian markets open firm as Japan, Korea lead tech-driven rally Stock market Author Devesh Kumar Devesh K. Mar 17, 2026, 00:29 AM Japan and Korea lead gains as tech stocks rebound. Nvidia-driven sentiment boosts chip and AI-linked names. Indian indices slip after early gains despite positive breadth. Asian markets opened on a firm note on Tuesday as investors returned to technology and auto names after Nvidia announced new tie-ups and gave an upbeat outlook. Japan and South Korea led the Asian markets rally, even as a fresh rise in oil prices kept geopolitical risk firmly in view. The early move also fit a broader rebound across regional equities as the Asian markets hope for another day of gains while traders kept one eye on a crowded central-bank calendar. Nikkei 225 and Kospi lead gains Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.75% in early trade, while the broader Topix gained more than 1%. The tone in Tokyo was helped by renewed appetite for chip-linked and industrial stocks after Nvidia’s announcements improved sentiment toward the regional technology supply chain. South Korea outperformed the rest of the major Asian markets, wit…

[1/2] 2026-06-22 08:40:40 - [Japanese and Korean stock markets opened lower and moved higher] The Japanese and Korean stock markets opened lower and moved higher. The Nikkei 225 index is now up more than 1%, breaking through 72,000 points for the first time and

Asian stocks unable to track Wall St higher, yen holds at 40-year low Share Options HONG KONG:Asian equities fluctuated Tuesday as investors struggled to build on a record day on Wall Street, where tech firms bounced after the hefty selling of the past two weeks, while the yen held around a four-decade low against the dollar. With optimism that the US-Iran crisis will eventually come to an end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen, attention has returned to central bank monetary policy and the future of the AI boom. The tech sector—which has led a global rally across markets and pushed several companies to record highs—has taken a pummelling of late on fears over stretched valuations, interest rates and when traders will see returns on their investments. But a rush to pick up bargains following that selloff fuelled a spike in New York, where the Dow hit a fresh peak and the Nasdaq climbed more than two percent. That came thanks to strong finishes for Magnificent Seven plays including Amazon, Meta and Nvidia. “After last week’s record selling in big tech, buyers returned to the same names they were throwing overboard only days earlier,” said SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes. “Tha…

Hong Kong Stocks Rebound as Geopolitical Tensions Ease Hong Kong stocksrebounded on signs of a de-escalation of the US-Israel war on Iran. TheHang Seng Indexrose 1.2 per cent to 24,678.33. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.3 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 0.1 per cent and theShanghai Composite Indexretreated 0.4 per cent. Laopu Goldjumped 11 per cent and machine tool maker Techtronic Industries surged 9.4 per cent.Alibaba Group Holdingadded 1.1 per cent and Tencent Holdings rose 1.4 per cent. US President Donald Trump said he was withholding assaults on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days, citing major points of agreement with Iran. He said special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had held discussions with a top person on the Iranian side, claiming both parties were keen to strike a deal and would talk again by phone. Two companies made their debut inHong Kong. Zhejiang Galaxis Technology Group soared 81 per cent and Jiangsu New Vision Automotive Electronics rose 1.3 per cent. Other major Asian markets all edged higher. Japan'sNikkei 225climbed 0.9 per cent, while South Korea'sKospirose 1.5 per cent and Australia'sS&P/ASX200added 0.4 per cen…

Japan and South Korea Stocks Open Lower but Rise, Nikkei Breaks 72,000 ... AI Podcast Japanese and South Korean markets experienced a sharp intraday rebound on June 22, fueled by reports of significant progress in US-Iran negotiations. After opening lower on geopolitical concerns, the Nikkei 225 hit a record 72,354.13, supported by government-led investment targets in AI and semiconductors. Meanwhile, the KOSPI recovered to close at 9,114.55, with SK Hynix overtaking Samsung Electronics in market capitalization. As oil prices eased below $80 per barrel, market sentiment shifted toward risk-on, driven by reduced regional tensions and strong capital inflows into the technology sector, underscoring persistent investor FOMO. TradingKey - During the Asian trading session on June 22, Japanese and South Korean stock markets fell before rebounding. Dragged down by news over the weekend that US-Iran negotiations had hit a stalemate, both Japanese and South Korean stock markets opened lower. However, market sentiment recovered rapidly in the afternoon following reports of substantial progress in the talks. The Nikkei 225 index surged past 72,000 points for the first time, hitting a new in…

Asian shares follow Wall Street higher, while the Japanese yen hits a ... Share HONG KONG (AP) — Markets in Europe and Asia were mostly higher on Tuesday,tracking Wall Street gains, while the Japanese yen was trading near a 40-year low against the U.S. dollar. U.S. futures were little changed. In Germany, the DAX climbed 0.8% to 24,810.48 while the CAC 40 in Paris edged 0.1% higher to 8,374.80. Britain's FTSE 100 picked up 0.4% to 10,524.33. Shares in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan rebounded from earlier losses spurred by selling of technology companies due to concerns over the sustainability of the boom in artificial intelligence. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.9% to 70,062.32. Chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron jumped 3.3%. SoftBank Group, an investment holding company that invests in OpenAI, was up 1.2%. South Korea’s Kospi index, which has performed strongly during the global AI frenzy due to growing demand for memory chips from major chipmakers like SK Hynix, gained 1% to 8,476.48. Shares of Samsung Electronics rose 3.4% and those of SK Hynix rose 0.8% after the two companies and the government jointlyannounced plansMonday for over $500 billion of investments in the count…

Most Asian markets rebound as Hong Kong tech rally resumes ETMarkets.com Hong Kong, Feb 26, 2025 -Hong Kong stocks resumed their impressive start to the year on Wednesday as they rocketed more than three percent on the back of a surge in tech firms fuelled by fresh optimism over the sector in China. The rally led gains across most of Asia's markets, with investors shifting back to buy mode following a poor start to the week sparked by fresh US tariff concerns. Traders brushed off another disappointing day on Wall Street following more data showing consumers in the world's top economy were losing confidence. The Hong Kong market climbed more than three percent and has enjoyed a blockbuster start to the year, rocketing by almost a fifth to hit its highest level since March 2022. The rally has come as investors snap up long-neglected tech names after Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled a chatbot last month that upended the AI universe. Live Events It has also been helped by Beijing's moves to bring the firms in from the cold after years of government crackdowns on the industry. E-commerce heavyweight Alibaba was again one of the major advancers, rallying nearly six percent, with JD.com…

Oil steady, investors weigh Venezuela export resumption versus ... Asian stocks surged on Tuesday at the end of an impressive quarter, as a resurgent yen fell to its lowest level in four decades and headed towards a fourth consecutive quarterly increase. Japan's Nikkei rose 1.6% and is on track to set a new record for quarterly gains of over 38%. South Korea's KOSPI, which is dominated by chipmakers, rose 3%. However it was on track for a record-breaking second-quarter gain of more than 71%. It has already doubled in the past year. Brent crude futures are trading at $72.49 per barrel, which is the pre-war price. This is even with the current tensions in the interim ceasefire. "Now that oil prices are down, this reinforces our view of a more trend-like?growth?around?the world as compared to the sub-trend we thought about a few months ago. It also feeds into the better earnings stories," said Kerry Craig, strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, in Melbourne. Wall Street indexes were up overnight, and futures in Asia were slightly higher. European futures rose 0.6% and were poised for a strong session start. Dollar is set to rise by a quarter thanks to the remarkable change…

Russia's Severstal reports big profit drop, sees further decline in ... Yonhap News Agency, citing the prosecution, reported that South Korean prosecutors indicted four oil refiners for alleged collusion over fuel prices, which was estimated to have caused anti-competitive damage worth $17 billion. Yonhap reported that the companies are HD Hyundai Oilbank GS Caltex S-Oil and SK Energy. The 'Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office spokesperson did not reply to my phone call and text message seeking confirmation of the report. A phone call or text message asking for confirmation of the report was not answered. Yonhap reported that the prosecutors alleged pricing managers from HD Hyundai Oilbank, SK Energy and other companies colluded on prices of petroleum products shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in Iran this year. Yonhap reported that they discussed the timing and scale of price increases. Yonhap reported that GS Caltex, S-Oil and other oil companies followed the same pricing. Yonhap, citing prosecutors, said that the total value of the anti-competitive effects was estimated to be 26 trillion won (17 billion dollars). SK?Innovation (the parent compan…

Kospi: South Korea's stock market volatility - CNBC South Korea's stock market has swung wildly in recent days, underscoring how the world's best-performing equities market last year is turning into its most volatile one. The benchmarkKospi indexplunged as much as 12% on Wednesday, marking its largest single-day drop on record, before staging a powerful rebound in the next session, up nearly 10%, marking its best day since 2008. It was trading over 1% lower on Friday. The whipsaw comes as investors reassess risks from the escalating war in the Middle East, which has sent oil prices surging and rattled markets globally, and the market's concentration in a few stocks. While the global risk-off mood has played a major role, experts said Korean market's concentration in two memory giants and its sensitivity to energy shocks has made it particularly vulnerable to sharp swings. "Korea is a bit of an outlier, if you look at the other stock markets' reaction," said Jason Hsu, chief executive officer at Rayliant Global Advisors. He added that the Kospi's heavy concentration in a handful of technology stocks, meant that market moves tend to be magnified relative to more diversified indi…

Asian Stocks Hit Records as Tech Surge, Fed Bets Drive Rally Nikkei Japan and Taiwan stocks hit record highs as AI-fueled tech optimism and U.S. inflation expectations boosted hopes of Federal Reserve rate cuts. Asian Markets Ride Wave of Optimism Asian equities surged on Thursday, with Japan and Taiwan leading the charge to fresh record highs. The rally was fueled by booming technology shares and rising confidence that U.S. inflation will remain tame enough to clear the way for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, potentially more than once this year. The momentum marks a turning point for regional markets that have been weighed down for months by global economic uncertainty, weak Chinese demand, and geopolitical risks. Now, investors are finding fresh reasons to buy. Central Banks in the Spotlight All eyes remain on central banks. The European Central Bank is expected to leave borrowing costs unchanged later in the day, but with Europe’s trade outlook strained and political divisions widening, policymakers are unlikely to close the door on further easing. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve has become the central focus for global markets. Investors are betting on a rate cut at …

Global Market Today: Asian stocks rise after tech-led rebound in US AP The disruptive potential of artificial intelligence has roiled stocks across sectors for weeks in what’s become known as the AI scare trade. Asian stocks opened higher after a rally in technology shares lifted Wall Street benchmarks, tempering concern about the disruptive effects of artificial intelligence that had rattled markets for weeks. Shares opened higher in Japan, South Korea and Australia, helping the MSCI Asia Pacific Index extend its advance to a third day. A rebound in the battered software stocks drove the Nasdaq 100 up 1.1%, while the S&P 500 also advanced, ahead of the key earnings from Nvidia Corp. on Wednesday. Advanced Micro Devices Inc.’s deal with Meta Platforms Inc. also boosted sentiment. US Markets Powered By As on 27 Jun 2026, 01:30 AM IST S&P 500 Top Gainers Moderna 67.27 (12.59%) FactSet Research Systems 231.74 (10.97%) ServiceNow 98.34 (9.85%) Workday 124.21 (9.18%) Gainers » S&P 500 Top Losers ON Semiconductor 90.65 (-23.66%) Western Digital 586.45 (-13.17%) Seagate Technology Hldgs 899.90 (-12.24%) Keysight Techs 328.66 (-8.72%) Losers » A Bloomberg gauge of the dollar was steady ah…

Japan, South Korea Equities Hit Records; Yen Slides to Two-Year Low ... Japan, South Korea Equities Hit Records; Yen Slides to Two-Year Low, Spot Gold Touches $4,300 Japanese and South Korean equities marked new historical records Thursday morning, while the yen slipped to its lowest level since July 2024, with Asia-Pacific markets seeking direction amid hawkish Fed signals and positive developments from a US-Iran agreement. The Nikkei 225 index saw intraday gains widen to 2%, surpassing the 71,000-point threshold for the first time to hit a record high; the Korean Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) also refreshed its record once again. One key factor driving improved market sentiment was former President Donald Trump signing a temporary agreement with Iran, announcing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices came under pressure subsequently, with Brent crude falling over 1% to breach $79 per barrel, easing market concerns regarding inflation pressures. However, the Fed's release of rate hike signals continued to weigh on the bond market, while the yen persistently weakened, triggering market speculation regarding potential intervention by Japanese authorities. APAC Equi…