-- 受中東戰爭和燃油價格上漲的影響，日本內閣府週四公佈的數據顯示，經季節性調整後的3月消費者信心指數降至33.3，低於2月的39.7。 消費者信心指數高於50表示樂觀情緒和好轉，低於50則反映悲觀情緒。 在各分項指標中，「整體生活」指數3月錄得29.7，低於2月份的39.5。 內閣府表示，「收入成長」指數3月為39.8，低於2月的42.3。 「就業」指數3月為37.6，低於上月的43.3。 內閣府也表示，「耐久財購買意願」指數3月降至26.0，低於2月的33.7。 內閣府指出，考慮到燃料價格上漲，3月調查中93.1%的受訪者預計未來12個月整體物價將上漲。 內閣府補充道，這次消費者信心指數調查於3月15日進行，共訪問了8,400戶家庭，回覆率為76.3%。 這份下滑的消費者信心報告緊接在週三發布的疲軟的經濟觀察員簡報之後。 日本經濟觀察員調查指數從2月的48.9降至3月的42.2，創下自2022年2月以來的最低水準。 每月進行的日本經濟觀察員調查衡量的是出租車司機、酒店員工和餐廳員工等面向消費者的行業從業人員的經濟信心。
Related Articles
Research
Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Hold Opinion On Shares Of Otis Worldwide Corporation
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We cut our 12-month target to $90 from $100 following Q1 earnings, valuing OTIS shares at 19.6x our 2027 EPS outlook of $4.58 (down from $4.70; 2026 EPS view updated to $4.18 from $4.25), a modest discount to industrial machinery peers' and OTIS's five-year forward multiple average given unclear timing of ongoing margin headwinds. Service margins were disappointing in Q1 (contracting 160 bps to 23%) amid higher labor and material costs that came in above pricing. Weakness in China has yet to stabilize, though as noted in the past, this represents a shrinking area of OTIS's portfolio and will have a more limited effect going forward. Overall, the latest quarter was more of the same (China weakness/New Equipment decline), though with the added concern of margin quality being pressured within Service - the core profit driver for OTIS overall. While efforts to shore up profitability are underway, we see timing of recovery being uncertain.
$OTIS
Asia Markets
Saudi Shares Start Week Higher; US-Iran Peace Talks Canceled
The Tadawul All Share Index closed Sunday 0.11% higher as investors assessed the latest updates regarding the conflict in the Middle East.US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social account that the Pakistani trip for his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, was canceled. The announcement dimmed the hopes for peace talks between Iran and the US to happen any time soon.Further to this, Israel launched an attack in Lebanon on April 25. The strikes, which targeted Hezbollah, resulted in four casualties and facility damage in Southern Lebanon.Back at home, Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical (SASE:2380), d/b/a Petro Rabigh, and Thob Al Aseel (SASE:4012) posted their financial results for the three months ended March 31. Petro Rabigh emerged from a loss in the first quarter, while Thob Al Aseel logged a higher net profit and revenue."The reason for net profit reported during the current quarter compared to a net loss recorded in the same quarter of last year was primarily attributable to improved product margins resulting from stronger refined product pricing and higher sales volumes," Petro Rabigh said in its report.Petro Rabigh rose 10% at closing, while Thob Al Aseel ticked down 1.59%.Meanwhile, the local calendar will be mostly empty except for the kingdom's preliminary figures for its GDP growth rate for the first quarter and the M3 money supply and private bank lending data for March on Thursday.
$^TASI$SASE:2380$SASE:4012
Research
Research Alert: CFRA Maintains Hold Rating On Shares Of United Rentals Inc.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We lift our 12-month target price to $1,100 from $950 following a strong first quarter, valuing shares at 20.5x our 2027 EPS outlook of $54.28 (in line with previous estimate; 2026 EPS also in line). We believe a higher multiple is justified given URI's firming market leadership within an expanding rental equipment industry. A robust Q1 beat enabled URI to raise its full-year revenue guidance to $16.9B-$17.4B and adjusted EBITDA to $7.625B-$7.875B, citing momentum heading into a busy season. With leverage well below historical levels, we believe accretive M&A deals could serve as a potential catalyst for additional guidance increases. Margin compression has been a sticky issue for URI, but Q1 indicated that pricing may have turned around and that headwinds are starting to ease as quarterly results begin to lap when tariff-related inflation began to pick-up. We remain cautious on margins, though are encouraged by signs of stabilization. New project activity is likely supporting pricing trends, in our view.
$URI