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Canadian Dollar Prospects Should Improve, Follow An Appreciating Trend To Year End, says BMO

Higher oil prices haven't provided lasting support for the Canadian dollar (CAD or loonie), amid escalating geopolitical and global economic risks, along with fading Federal Reserve rate cut prospects that have boosted the US dollar (USD), says Bank of Montreal (BMO).Even markets continuing to price in Bank of Canada rate hikes have failed to provide lasting support, adds the bank, noting that from the close on Feb. 27, the Canadian dollar has weakened a net 1.5% to around $1.385 (US$0.722).But, BMO says, as the U.S. dollar's boost from the Iranian conflict ebbs and Fed rate cuts resume, and with the BoC on a long pause, Canadian dollar prospects should improve.The bank says it looks for the CAD to follow an appreciating trend to $1.33 (US$0.752) by the end of 2026 as the Canadian economy rebounds after being hit disproportionately by the United States trade policy.Still, BMO adds, trade policy is a key risk for the Canadian dollar and the broader economy, with the review of the USMCA scheduled by July 1. BMO's working assumption is that the agreement won't be renewed and neither will any party give its six months' notice to exit.Instead, BMO expects a sequence of annual negotiation intervals to commence, which could last for at least the next two or three years.Meantime, while new Section 122 10% tariffs applied to USMCA noncompliant goods only, new national security or sectoral tariffs loom (Section 232) and Canada has been mentioned in the Section 301 investigations into unfair trade practices. The weight of U.S. trade policy on the loonie could mount "quickly," according to BMO.

$CAD$CXY$USD

Asia136d ago

Carrianna's Vice Chair Steps Down

Carrianna (HKG:0126) said Ma Hung Ming, John, resigned as its vice-chairman effective Friday, according to a same-day Hong Kong bourse filing.Ma was also re-designated from executive director to non-executive director, the restaurant operator said.The move comes for Ma to focus on other business developments and align with the firm's work adjustments.

HKG:0126

Asia136d ago

Market Chatter: China to Allow State Refiners to Tap Commercial Oil Reserves Amid Energy Crunch

China has allowed state refiners to tap commercial oil reserves, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.The move comes amid a global energy crisis brought about by the war in Iran, according to the report.The sources did not say how much the state-owned refiners such as China Petroleum & Chemical (HKG:0386, SHA:600028) or Sinopec and PetroChina (HKG:0857, SHA:601857) parent China National Petroleum Corp. could take, the report said.China could allow refiners to extract reserves of up to 1 million barrels daily from April to June, the report said, citing analysts at Energy Aspects.Chinese crude imports reach 11 million barrels daily, Bloomberg reported.(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.)

HKG:0386HKG:0857SHA:600028SHA:601857

Asia136d ago

SJVN Names CFO

SJVN (NSE:SJVN, BOM:533206) appointed Parthajit De as chief financial officer, effective April 10, according to a same-day filing on Indian bourses.Shares of the company were up over 2% in after-market hours.

BOM:533206NSE:SJVN

Asia136d ago

Market Chatter: Hainan Airlines Seeks As Much As 500 Million Yuan in Bond Market Return

Hainan Airlines (SHA:600221) is seeking to raise as much as 500 million yuan in a potential onshore bond offering, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.The airline's issuance comes following a debt restructuring more than four years ago, marking its return to the bond market, according to the news outlet.Hainan Airlines representatives have connected with investors in recent weeks to gauge interest in a sale of five-year bonds, according to Bloomberg.The airline has been planning the possible bond sale for at least one year, Bloomberg 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.)

SHA:600221

Asia136d ago

China to Improve Freight Transport Hubs

Chinese officials are looking to boost the country's freight transport hubs by increasing capacity for critical strategic materials and key industrial goods, Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday.Officials from the finance and transport ministries will support 30 cities and city clusters to boost their transport capacity over a three-year period beginning in 2026, the report said.China also seeks to improve its logistics network to ensure better domestic and international connections, according to the state-owned news agency.

Shanghai Composite^SZSE

Asia136d ago

Avonmore Capital & Management to Acquire EGE Consultant

Avonmore Capital & Management Services (NSE:AVONMORE, BOM:511589) agreed to acquire EGE Consultant, according to an Indian bourse filing on Friday.The transaction is subject to certain conditions, the company said.

BOM:511589NSE:AVONMORE

Asia136d ago

Zhenro Properties Logs 315 Million Yuan in March Contracted Sales

Zhenro Properties Group (HKG:6158) recorded contracted sales of around 315 million yuan in March, with a gross floor area (GFA) of 21,070 square meters, according to a Friday Hong Kong bourse filing.The property firm's average selling price for the month stood at approximately 15,000 yuan per square meter.For the first quarter of 2026, contracted sales and GFA reached roughly 964 million yuan and 68,134 square meters, respectively, with an average selling price of 14,100 yuan per square meter.

HKG:6158

International136d ago

Uncertain Ceasefire View Caps Wall Street Pre-Bell; Asia, Europe Up

Wall Street futures wavered pre-bell Friday as traders awaited US-Iran ceasefire negotiations, slated to start Saturday in Pakistan.In the futures, the S&P 500 was steady, the Nasdaq inclined 0.1% and the Dow Jones was off 0.1%.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures tracked in a relatively tight range, just under $98 a barrel.Investors also await the March consumer price index (CPI) report from Washington, due at 8:30 am ET, and sure to be parsed for clues of building inflationary pressures in the US economy.Asian exchanges traded mostly higher overnight, while European bourses tracked north midday on the continent, on Middle East ceasefire prospects.On the economic calendar, in addition to the CPI bulletin, is the University of Michigan consumer sentiment report for April, and the February factory orders release, at 10 am ET.The weekly Baker Hughes domestic oil-and-gas rig count logs at 1 pm.In pre-market action, bitcoin traded at $71,755, and 10-year US Treasuries offered 4.29%. Spot gold commanded $4,758 an ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500

Equities136d ago

Petrobras Signs $450 Million Contracts to Regain Full Ownership of Offshore Brazil Assets

Petrobras (PBR) said Thursday it signed contracts with Petronas Petroleo Brasil to acquire 50% stakes in the Tartaruga Verde and Espadarte - Module III fields in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil for $450 million, regaining full ownership in the assets.The company said $50 million was paid at signing, with $350 million to be paid upon closing. The deal consideration includes two deferred installments of up to $25 million each, according to Petrobras.The deal is subject to approval by Brazil's National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels.

$PBR

Asia136d ago

Belc's Full-Year Profit Up 2.4%

Belc's (TYO:9974) profit attributable to owners of the parent rose 2.4% to 12.7 billion yen for the fiscal year ended Feb. 28 from 12.4 billion yen a year earlier.The supermarket operator's basic earnings per share increased to 608.69 yen from 594.16 yen a year ago, according to a Tokyo bourse filing on Friday.Operating income gained 9.2% to 423.4 billion yen from 387.8 billion yen in the prior year.It declared a year-end dividend of 62 yen per share, payable from May 7.For the fiscal year ending Feb. 28, 2027, the company expects attributable profit in the range of 12.5 billion to 13.6 billion yen, basic EPS of 600.07 yen to 652.88 yen, and net sales of 434.5 billion to 454.6 billion yen.Belc plans to pay interim and year-end dividends of 66 yen per share, each, for the current year, which is higher than the dividends paid in the prior-year period.

TYO:9974

Asia136d ago

China Seeks More Competition Oversight in Power, Energy Storage Sectors

Chinese authorities asked companies to resist unreasonable pricing and unfair competition to ensure a healthy market environment for the power and battery energy storage sector, Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday.The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration issued the guidelines.The agencies also sought improved product quality supervision, efforts against intellectual property violations, and measures to address the spillover of competition into overseas markets, the report said.

Shanghai Composite^SZSE

Asia136d ago

Market Chatter: Prohibitions on Foreign Tech Could Deter Chinese Carmakers from Entering US, Top Trade Official Says

U.S. curbs on foreign technology could keep Chinese car manufacturers out of the country for the next 12 to 18 months, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.American prohibitions on foreign-made connected vehicle technology and software created by so-called foreign entities of concern are Chinese companies' biggest stumbling block, according to the report, citing Greer."It would probably be difficult for certain countries to establish new production here, given those sets of rules," Bloomberg quoted Greer as saying to reporters during a tour of an automobile production facility.Domestic car manufacturers are closely watching the possible entry of Chinese carmakers to the U.S., after President Donald Trump said he was open to China-based manufacturers from setting up shop in America, provided they hire American workers, 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.)

Shanghai Composite^SZSE

Equities136d ago

Goldman Sachs Adjusts Price Target on Phillips 66 to $192 From $186, Maintains Neutral Rating

Phillips 66 (PSX) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $181.68, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)

$PSX

Asia137d ago

Market Chatter: Blackstone, Apollo and SoftBank Eye Over 1 Trillion Yen TEPCO Capital Tie-Up

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TYO:9501) has drawn interest from Blackstone, Apollo Global Management, and SoftBank (TYO:9984) for a planned capital partnership that could involve external funding exceeding 1 trillion yen, according to a Nikkei report on Thursday.Citing people familiar with the discussions, the publication said global private equity firms are viewed as strong contenders to provide such an investment.Proposals were submitted before TEPCO's end-of-March deadline, the news agency added, allowing the utility to begin screening potential partners.The power company intends to spend the coming months refining possible deal structures and narrowing down the candidate list, the report noted.TEPCO has not replied to MTNewswire queries at press time.(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.)

TYO:9501TYO:9984

US Markets137d ago

German Inflation Hits Two-year High in March as Middle East War Fuels Energy Price Surge

The annual inflation rate in Germany accelerated in March 2026, marking its highest level since January 2024, largely driven by soaring energy prices due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.The German consumer price index climbed to 2.7% in March from 1.9% in February, in line with the provisional estimate, final data from the country's Federal Statistical Office showed Friday. On a monthly basis, consumer prices matched the initial reading of a 1.1% increase, compared with the previous 0.2% uptick.Energy product prices jumped 7.2% year over year, indicating the first time energy prices increased on an annual basis since December 2023, with motor fuel and heating oil prices surging 20% and 44.4%, respectively, as a result of the war.On the services front, prices rose 3.2%, while the prices of food and goods were respectively 0.9% and 2.3% higher, aligning with the overall inflation rate. The annual core inflation, which excludes food and energy, stood at 2.5%.Meanwhile, the annual harmonized inflation rate increased to 2.8% from 2%. Month over month, harmonized consumer prices were 1.2% higher, compared with the previous 0.4% gain. The statistical office confirmed the preliminary readings for both.Looking ahead, ING expects headline inflation in Germany to further increase, remaining between 3% and 4% for most of 2026."All in all, today's German inflation data shows that, for the time being, the new inflation wave stemming from the war in the Middle East is 'only' an energy price shock. Any [European Central Bank] reaction to this new price shock will clearly depend on whether soaring energy prices will find their way into the rest of the economy or not," the research firm said in a March 30 note. "Needless to say that a broadening of inflationary pressures and a de-anchoring of inflation expectations could trigger an ECB rate hike. For now, however - at the risk of using a forbidden word, at least at the ECB - the energy price shock falls under the label of 'transitory'."

^SXXP

International137d ago

Eurozone's Monthly Services Output Rises 1.2% in January

The euro area's seasonally adjusted services production rose 1.2% month over month in January, after zero growth in the previous month, according to Eurostat data published Friday.On a yearly basis, the eurozone's services output was 1.5% higher, against the 0.5% gain earlier.

^SXXP

Asia137d ago

TSMC's Revenue Soars 45% in March

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TPE:2330) booked consolidated revenue of NT$415.2 billion for March, up 45% versus a year earlier.Monthly, the figure increased 31%, according to a Friday Taiwan Exchange filing.Cumulative revenue for the first three months of 2026 reached NT$1,134.10 billion, soaring 35% from the same period in 2025.

TPE:2330

Asia137d ago

Hanwha Aerospace Abandons Plan to Take Over Poongsan's Ammunition Business

Hanwha Aerospace (KRX:012450) suspended the review of acquiring the defense unit of Poongsan (KRX:103140), according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange.Shares of Hanwha Aerospace rose nearly 4% at market close while those of Poongsan declined over 3%.The South Korean defense company did not specify the reason for the decision.

KRX:012450KRX:103140

International137d ago

Ceasefire Prospects Lift Asian Stock Markets

Asian stock markets gained ground Friday, after media reports that US-Iran ceasefire negotiations will take place on Saturday in Pakistan.Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, as did most other regional exchanges.Brent oil futures held under $100 a barrel, near $96 during Asian trading hours.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 1.8% as traders weighed a profit report from a major retailer and mulled Middle East peace prospects.The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1,028.79 to 56,924.11, although losing issues outnumbered gainers 146 to 75.Leading the upside was Fast Retailing, up 12% after reporting H1 earnings and issuing upbeat guidance. Consultancy BayCurrent declined 5.8%.In economic news, Japan's producer price index (PPI) rose 2.6% on year in March, after rising 2.1% on year in February, pushed by higher oil bills, reported the Bank of Japan.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher and held ground, closing up 0.6% after an inflation report from Beijing suggested the nation's bout with industrial-price deflation may be ebbing.The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 141.14 to 25,893.54 as gaining issues outnumbered losers 56 to 31. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.8% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.4%.Leading the upside was Contemporary Amperex Technology, gaining 9%, while noodle-maker Tingyi declined 3.3%.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.5% to 3,986.22.In economic news, China's producer price index (PPI) rose 0.5% on year in March, snapping a 41-month stretch of contraction, reported the National Bureau of Statistics.China's consumer price index (CPI) rose 1% in March on year, slipping February's 1.3% reading, added the NBS.On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 1.4%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 1.6%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.3%, and the Thai Set inclined 1.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.2%The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.7% on the day.

Hang SengNikkei 225Shanghai Composite

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International137d ago

Ceasefire Prospects Lift Asian Stock Markets

Hang SengNikkei 225Shanghai Composite