Materials stocks advanced nearly 2% at midday Thursday.
BHP Group (ASX:BHP) gained nearly 1% in recent trade after its BHP Metals Exploration subsidiary struck an agreement with Kobrea Exploration to jointly advance exploration across Kobrea's Western Malargüe copper projects in Argentina.
On the flip side, the real estate sector struggled, shedding nearly 1%.
Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) shares fell 2% in recent trade.
India's market regulator has proposed allowing real estate investment trusts (REITs) and publicly listed infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) to issue depository receipts, according to a consultation paper published on Tuesday.The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is proposing an enabling framework for the issuance of depository receipts backed by units of REITs and publicly listed InvITs.The regulator said the instruments would allow foreign investors to trade the securities in foreign currency on permitted international exchanges.SEBI proposed amending the REIT and InvIT regulations to permit such issuances and plans to introduce a detailed framework through a separate circular.Public comments on the consultation paper are invited until Aug. 25.
Sharetronic Data Technology (SHE:300857) said its board approved 150 million yuan in new 2026 related-party transactions with Cheng Uei Precision for Internet of Things smart terminal product sales.This raised the annual total to 350 million yuan, according to a Wednesday filing with the Shenzhen bourse.Shares of the wireless telecommunication equipment manufacturer rose 6% in recent trade.
Helens International (SGX:HLS, HKG:9869) expects to book a net profit of up to 16 million yuan, compared with an adjusted net profit of 50.3 million yuan a year earlier.Meanwhile, the company expects a revenue of up to 260 million yuan in the first half of the year, compared to 291.2 million yuan a year earlier, according to a Tuesday filing with the Singapore Exchange.The decrease in revenue is mainly due to a decline in the number of self-operated bars during the period.