Australia’s S&P ASX 200 was the best-performing index in the Asia-Pacific region on July 3. The index gained 0.59% on the day to end near its 12-year high at 6,685.5.
Australia’s ASX200 lost marginally today. Although the index was trading higher until noon, it erased those gains afterward. 70 stocks gained, while 118 fell. BHP Group (BHP) outperformed the index with marginal gains, while Rio Tinto (RIO) gained 0.64%.
Australia’s ASX200 recovered today after a loss on Friday. After losing 0.55% on Friday, the index rose 0.22% today. Out of 200 stocks in the index, 83 advanced, while 103 retreated. 14 stayed unchanged today. BHP Group (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) were among the gainers, while News Corp (NWSA) lost 1.29% on the Australian Stock Exchange today.
South Korea’s KOSPI continued to fall for the second straight day on May 17. The index, which fell 1.2% on May 16, extended its losses by another 0.58%.
Qualcomm’s (QCOM) business practices have come under regulatory scrutiny in various countries including China, South Korea (EWY), Europe, and the United States.
Today, Xilinx (XLNX) stock is beating the charts with an increase of over 18%, and it’s still growing as its third quarter of fiscal 2019 earnings and guidance beat analysts estimate by a huge margin.
The semiconductor industry has been at the center of the US-China (FXI) trade war as the two countries together account for the majority of worldwide semiconductor sales.
Given that global semiconductor revenues reached $400 billion in 2017, China’s (FXI) proposal to increase semiconductor imports from the US appears positive.
As we observed in the previous part of this series, Wall Street analysts expect a revenue decline of 27% YoY (year-over-year) for BlackBerry (BB) in fiscal 4Q18 with revenue of $216.8 million.
In the chart below, we can see that net bookings for Electronic Arts’ (EA) Mobile platform rose 5% YoY (year-over-year) to $183 million in fiscal 3Q18.
EA’s FIFA franchise remains one of the leading games worldwide. It has approximately 42 million players on console platforms PlayStation (SNE) and Xbox (MSFT).
Fitbit in a transition phase During Fitbit’s (FIT) 4Q17 earnings call, CEO James Park stated that Fitbit is in a multiyear transition process. The company aims to leverage its core brand assets, data, and large customer community. Fitbit needs to focus on product innovation to beat competition from Apple Watch and peers Garmin (GRMN), Korea’s (EWY) Samsung […]
While North Korea and South Korea (EWY) have initiated talks recently, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions mean that tensions will always remain in the region despite temporary overtures of peace from both sides.
The cryptocurrency market has had a rebound. As of February 7, 2018, in the early morning hours, all digital currencies had rebounded from their previous day’s close. Bitcoin rose 22.8%.
Stock markets around the world rallied in 2017. Asian equities, in particular, grabbed investors’ attention in 2017, as they have been outperforming other markets.
Over the past two years, Qualcomm has paid ~$2.7 billion in fines to regulators in China and South Korea and is now facing a $774-million fine from Taiwan.
Among the 35 OECD countries, the US has the highest corporate tax rate of 35%. This tax rate puts US companies at a disadvantage compared to their foreign rivals.
Samsung (SSNLF) shipped 311.4 million smartphones in 2016, a fall of 3% year-over-year compared to shipments of 320.9 million units in 2015. Samsung is the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer.
Manufacturing activity in July 2017 South Korean (EWY) manufacturing activity dropped in the July 2017, with a sharp reduction in output. The Nikkei South Korea (EEM) manufacturing PMI decreased to 49.1 from 50.1 in June, according to an IHS Markit report. Manufacturing activity in South Korea returned to contraction, with reduced orders for its key export markets, […]
South Korean equities are soaring in 2017, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (or KOSPI), its benchmark index, reaching an all-time high of 2,451.5 in July 2017.
While the weak global economic recovery has weighed heavily on Asian exports, domestic weakness has also played a role in the region’s economic slowdown.
Several external factors are expected to impact Indonesia’s economy in 2017. The US government’s protectionist stance is expected to influence global trade.
Manufacturing activity in South Korea Although South Korea’s (EWY) manufacturing activity increased in April 2017, its pace of growth slowed amid tensions with its important trading partner, China (FXI). Currently, relations between China (MCHI) and South Korea (KOR) are under pressure due to the United States’ deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) […]
Improved economic conditions Measures of business confidence in South Korea (EWY) show that manufacturers have become slightly optimistic about business and economic conditions. Exports continued to grow in April 2017, supporting an improved outlook. Business confidence saw the largest rise since March 2015, due to domestic and global economies’ (ACWI) (VT) recovery from the financial […]
South Korean economy The South Korean (EWY) (KOR) economy, an emerging market (EEM) participant, picked up the pace in 1Q17, despite geopolitical tensions. GDP growth in 1Q17 exceeded expectations, rising 0.9% quarter-over-quarter. Performance in 1Q17 was majorly driven by exports, which were supported by higher facility investments. However, the unemployment rate continues to rise, and is […]
South Korea’s economy in 2017 Asia’s (VPL) (EPP) fourth-largest economy, South Korea’s (EWY), showed some moderate signs of recovery in 1Q17. Improved global (ACWI) (VT) economic conditions have boosted the country’s exports and investments in the last two quarters. South Korea’s central bank has kept the key interest rate steady, and inflation has remained close […]
Consumer confidence in South Korea South Korea’s (EWY) newly elected president aims to bring about economic and structural reforms. Consumer confidence in South Korea (DBKO) has jumped to the highest level in last three years. Let’s look at consumer confidence in South Korea over the last year. Rising consumer confidence in South Korea South Korea’s […]
South Korea’s (EWY) stock market soared to a new high recently, posting large gains across the Asia-Pacific region (VPL)(EPP). In this series, we’ll discuss what we can expect from South Korea for the rest of the year.
Although American investors have focused on domestic markets in the past, investors seeking long-term capital appreciation need to focus on Asia as well.
Apple has acknowledged that Qualcomm should be paid for its SEP (standard essential patent), but it argues that the latter is charging an unreasonably high price for the license.
Qualcomm (QCOM) has been and continues to be the preferred choice of dividend-seeking investors because of its strong balance sheet and rich cash flows.
Qualcomm (QCOM) is a cash-rich company with $30 billion of cash reserves, $7.4 billion of annual operating cash flows, and $18.9 billion of net cash balance.
In December 2016, the KFTC (Korea Fair Trade Commission) imposed a fine of $853 million on Qualcomm as it found the chip supplier’s licensing practices to be monopolistic.
Smartphone shipments to grow The iPhone, Apple’s (AAPL) flagship product, accounts for approximately 58% of the company’s total revenue. Any impact on revenue in this segment could significantly impact overall revenue. Research company IDC (International Data Corporation) estimates that global smartphone shipment growth slowed to less than 1% in 2016, compared with ~10% in 2015, […]
According to the 2015 trade statistics, China exported $483 billion worth of goods to the US, while the US exported just $116 billion worth of goods to China.
The rise in digital revenues for Activision Blizzard (ATVI) was one of the company’s major highlights in 3Q16. Driven by digital performance, the operating margin for Activision rose to 37% in 3Q16 from 26% in 3Q15.
Fitbit has increased its revenue significantly over the last five years. The company’s revenue rose from $76 million in 2012 to $745 million in 2014 and $1.9 billion in 2015.
In 1Q16, Activision Blizzard (ATVI) completed its acquisition of King Digital. This acquisition has helped Activision’s MAU growth reach impressive levels.
Taiwan’s economy rose by 0.7% on an annual basis in 2Q16—compared to a contraction of 0.29% in the previous quarter and slightly above estimated forecasts.
The official manufacturing PMI for China, published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, came in at 49.9 for July—slightly below June’s reading of 50.
The RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) induced a sell-off in the Australian dollar when it kept the door open for rate cuts in the future. It said inflation rates are still below the target.
In 2Q16, Ericsson (ERIC) partnered with leading telecom operators SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom to deploy what it called the “world’s first transcontinental 5G trial network.”
