FINWIRES — Financial News

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.

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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.)

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

US Markets21d 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'."

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International21d 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.

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Financial News · Live Terminal

Carrianna's Vice Chair Steps Down

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

SJVN Names CFO

Carrianna's Vice Chair Steps Down

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

SJVN Names CFO

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

China to Improve Freight Transport Hubs

Avonmore Capital & Management to Acquire EGE Consultant

Zhenro Properties Logs 315 Million Yuan in March Contracted Sales

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

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

Belc's Full-Year Profit Up 2.4%

China Seeks More Competition Oversight in Power, Energy Storage Sectors

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

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

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

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

Eurozone's Monthly Services Output Rises 1.2% in January

TSMC's Revenue Soars 45% in March

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

Ceasefire Prospects Lift Asian Stock Markets

Chunghwa Telecom Logs NT$10 Billion Profit in Q1