Here’s what you need to know today:
Nikkei Rallies: Japan’s Nikkei led gains in Asian markets, hitting fresh 34-year highs. The Nikkei 225 surged nearly 2%, with the Topix also posting gains. This surge followed reports suggesting that Japan’s central bank won’t aggressively tighten monetary policy. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 inched closer to the milestone 5,000 level, with the Nasdaq Composite also climbing 0.95%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied further on the back of positive earnings.
China’s VC Shift: Geopolitical tensions, sluggish growth, and stringent regulations are prompting a strategic shift among China’s venture capitalists towards seeking investors outside the U.S. Additionally, Beijing’s focus on policy support is prompting VCs to explore consumer sectors, which typically require greater capital investment.
Russian Oil: India’s energy minister acknowledged the country’s role in stabilizing global crude prices by purchasing Russian oil, which has been offered at discounted rates since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
SoftBank Gains: SoftBank, led by Masayoshi Son, reported a significant gain of over $16 billion on its stake in Arm, with the latter’s stock rallying in after-hours trading following a strong forecast. SoftBank’s quarterly revenue rose 14% year-on-year, with net income reaching $87 million.
Bullish on Nintendo: Analysts express optimism about Nintendo’s stock, anticipating a potential rise of over 30% in the next 12 months, contingent upon the success of the company’s highly anticipated console.
The Bottom Line – NYCB Troubles: Concerns are mounting around another U.S. regional lender, New York Community Bank (NYCB), following a credit rating downgrade by Moody’s. The bank moved swiftly to reassure investors about its financial health and appointed Alessandro DiNello as the new executive chairman. Despite initial declines, NYCB shares surged nearly 7% as DiNello reassured investors about the bank’s liquidity position. However, ongoing challenges, including mounting losses on commercial real estate, underscore the need for sustained measures to restore investor confidence amidst Moody’s concerns regarding financial, risk management, and governance challenges at NYCB.