-- Henan Zhongfu Industrial's (SHA:600595) attributable profit rose 130% to 1.62 billion yuan in 2025 from 703.7 million yuan in 2024, according to a Wednesday filing with the Shanghai bourse.
Earnings per share at the electrolytic aluminum and aluminum products manufacturer increased 122% to 0.40 yuan from 0.18 yuan in the previous year.
Operating income grew 1.4% year over year to 23.1 billion yuan from 22.8 billion yuan.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (TYO:8316) or SMFG plans to launch a full-scale asset management service for Japanese universities as investment becomes more crucial for higher education, Nikkei Asia reported on Friday.Private universities and junior colleges hold an estimated 10 trillion yen or $62.7 billion in assets - mainly in cash equivalents and bonds, the news daily said, citing the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan (PMAC).While Japan's national universities have become more proactive with their assets, directing more money toward growth-oriented investments, their exposure to stocks and investment trusts remains limited, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
FireFly Metals (ASX:FFM) and Bellavista Resources (ASX:BVR) obtained all necessary shareholder approvals and satisfied or waived remaining conditions for the sale of FireFly's Ontario gold portfolio, including its 70% stake in the Pickle Crow Project and full ownership of the Sioux Lookout Project, according to a Friday filing with the Australian bourse.Completion of the transaction is expected on April 29, per the filing.Firefly will receive 60 million Bellavista shares upfront, along with 50 million performance rights, with an in-specie distribution to shareholders scheduled for May 11, equating to around one Bellavista share for every 12.8 Firefly shares held, the filing said.The transaction includes a waiver of the Australian Taxation Office class ruling condition, with tax treatment still pending final confirmation, the filing added.FireFly Metals and Bellavista Resources' shares each shed about 1% in recent Friday trade.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We raise our 12-month price target by $17 to $269, based on 24x our 2026 EPS estimate (up from 23x), a discount to POOL's 26x five-year average forward multiple, reflecting cyclical headwinds to new pool construction. We raise our 2026 EPS estimate to $11.20 from $10.95 and raise 2027's to $11.94 from $11.81, reflecting strong Q1 chemical (+8% Y/Y), equipment (+7% Y/Y) sales growth and gradual improvement in building materials growth (+5% Y/Y). We reiterate our Buy opinion, viewing management's 2026 EPS guidance of $10.87-$11.17 as achievable given low single-digit sales growth and flat operating margins, with upside as tariff cost impacts wane. We think POOL's unmatched scale (455 sales centers) provides it key advantages, including a differentiated product portfolio, ability to ramp private label product sales, and technology (POOL360) and supplier partnerships that support the company's ability to gain market share of the 5.5 million installed pool base in the U.S.