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.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index recovered from yesterday’s loss to gain 0.4% today. Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower released May’s employment data, which showed that the unemployment rate was steady at 2.2%.
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.
The iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF (EWY) fell 1.5% on June 12 and 13, while the US-tracking SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) returned -0.2% and 0.5%, respectively.
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 […]
HP’s (HPQ) Printing business revenue rose 14% YoY (year-over-year) in fiscal 1Q18 to $5.1 billion with a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) operating profit of $801 million or an operating margin of 15.8%.
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%.
At CES 2018, Intel’s chief executive officer, Brian Krzanich, showcased the company’s efforts in immersive media such as the use of its True VR technology in sports arenas.
North America and Latin America continued to be the largest market for Oracle (ORCL). The Americas region accounted for 56% of the company’s total revenues in fiscal 2Q18.
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.
Oracle’s (ORCL) largest geographical segment comprises North America and Latin America. This region accounted for ~56% of its total revenues in fiscal 1Q18.
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.
Qualcomm (QCOM) is facing lawsuits from its customers and competitors. It’s also facing regulatory probes from the United States, South Korea (EWY), Taiwan, and Europe.
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 […]
Reliance on external sector The South Korean (EWY) economy is heavily reliant on the external sector. In 2015, it was the fifth-largest export economy (DBKO) in the world, according to the ECI (economic complexity index). China (FXI) is its largest trading partner, as the countries share a sea border. In April 2017, South Korea recorded a larger trade […]
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 […]
South Korean economy The South Korean (EWY) economy is currently affected by security threats from North Korea and several chaebols, or family-controlled companies. Samsung Electronics (SSNLF) (HYMLF), a chaebol, has been involved in a corruption scandal, like companies in many other emerging markets. However, on a positive note, most macroeconomic factors look promising thanks to new […]
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.
