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Asia-Pacific markets are trading mixed on Monday after Wall Street snapped a four-day losing streak Friday. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 opened 0.47% higher, while in South Korea, the Kospi rose 0.62% and the Kosdaq was up 0.76%. Japan's Nikkei 225 sunk 0.46% in early trade, while the Topix reversed earlier losses and gained 0.15%. Au Jibun bank is slated to release private surveys on its services purchasing managers index for Japan later Monday, as well as its composite purchasing managers index. Futures tied to Hong Kong's Hang Seng index point to a lower open for the index, trading at 19,984 compared to its last close of 20,049.31.

☆ HSBC shareholders to vote on whether to spin off Asia business at Friday's annual meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

HSBC's senior executives faced its Hong Kong shareholders from retirees to taxi drivers as the lender seeks to fend off a push in Asia to split the bank. Last month, HSBC said spinning off its Asian business "would result in material loss of value for HSBC shareholders." "It's just a bank that has some great operations [in] Hong Kong, and other places. Shares of HSBC in Hong Kong were trading 0.6% lower on Friday. The annual meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Hong Kong time.

The full moon, otherwise known as a strawberry supermoon, is seen over the Skyline of the CBD in Sydney, Australia June 15, 2022. Asia-Pacific markets fell as banking fears were reignited on Wall Street, sending the three major U.S. indexes into a four day losing streak. Regional bank shares sold off, with the SPDR S&P Regional Bank ETF (KRE) dropping more than 5% and some banks seeing volatile trading. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 19,904, pointing to a lower open compared to its last close of 19,948.73. China's Caixin services purchasing managers index for April will be published later today, a day after the Caixin manufacturing PMI fell into contraction territory.

The seizure was to "thwart the activity" of Islamic State and "impair its ability to further its goals," the NBCTF said on its website. The NBCTF document, which has not been previously reported, did not give any details on the value of the crypto seized, nor how the accounts were connected to Islamic State. Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange by trading volumes, did not respond to Reuters' calls and emails seeking comment. The U.S. Treasury said in a report last year that Islamic State had received crypto donations it later converted to cash, accessing funds via crypto trading platforms. The owner of the two Islamic State-linked Binance accounts seized by Israel was a 28-year old Palestinian called Osama Abuobayda, the NBCTF document shows.

The US Federal Reserve Building is seen in Washington, DC, May 3, 2023. However, the Fed did hint at a possible pause to hikes. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.24%, ahead of the country's March trade data due later Wednesday. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were also lower standing at 19,656, compared to its last close of 19,699.16. Mainland Chinese markets are set to reopen after the Labor Day holiday, while Japanese markets are closed for a holiday Thursday.

Asia-Pacific markets are set to fall Wednesday as investors look ahead to the U.S Federal Reserve's policy decision due out early Thursday morning in Asia. A Reuters poll found 94 out of 105 economists said they expect the Fed to hike rates by 25 basis points, with the remainder forecasting a pause. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 opened 0.21% lower, while South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.55% and the Kosdaq saw a larger loss, falling 0.85%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is also set for a lower open, with futures tied to the index standing at 19,624 compared to its last close of 19,933.81. Markets in Japan and mainland China are closed for a holiday Wednesday.

☆ Singapore's largest lender expects net interest margins will decline, but sees other growth drivers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's largest lender DBS Group Holdings expects net interest income to taper off in the future, but the bank is confident that it can ride on other drivers going forward, such as a growth in loans and fee income. On Tuesday, DBS reported record revenue and net profit for the first quarter. DBS said this was due to "higher net interest margin, sustained business momentum and resilient asset quality." Net interest margin, or NIM, rose 66 basis points year-on-year to 2.12%, compared with 1.46% in the first quarter of 2022. Net interest income is a measurement comparing the interest income a firm generates from credit products like loans and mortgages, with the outgoing interest it pays out, such as to savings accounts or fixed deposits.

A pedestrian passes the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) building in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. Asia-Pacific markets are largely higher as most markets reopen after the long Labor Day weekend. For Tuesday, investors will be closely watching Australia's central's bank to see if it will continue to hike interest rates, having held the benchmark policy rate at 3.6% in their last meeting. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was 0.15% lower as investors await the country's central bank decision on whether it will continue to hike rates. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.74%, while the Kosdaq climbed 0.75% after the country saw its inflation rate slow to a 14-month low of 3.7%.

Sydney Harbour taking in the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and ferries at sunrise during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Australian and Japanese markets are both trading higher even as most Asian markets are closed for the Labor Day holiday Monday. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.14%, as the country saw its factory activity in April contracted at its fastest pace in 35 months, with private surveys from Juno Bank showing its purchasing managers index standing at 48. Au Jibun bank will release Japan's factory activity data for April later in the day. Over the weekend, China's factory activity unexpectedly slipped into contraction territory with its official manufacturing purchasing managers index at 49.2, in contrast to economists expectations of 51.4.

New Governor of Bank of Japan Kazuo Ueda waits for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on April 10, 2023. Asia-Pacific markets largely rose on Friday after the Bank of Japan kept its monetary policy unchanged in the first monetary policy meeting chaired by new governor Kazuo Ueda. Japanese markets were all higher and led gains in the region, with the Nikkei 225 closing 1.4% higher at 28,856.44 following the central bank's decision and the Topix rose 1.23% to end the day at 2057,48. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 0.42% in its final hour, while the Hang Seng Tech index jumped 1.12%. In mainland China, the Shenzhen Component ticked up 1.08% to end at 11,338.67 and the Shanghai Composite rose 1.14% to close at 3,323.27.

☆ Asia markets lower as new Bank of Japan chief chairs first policy meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Japanese national flag flies outside the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 27, 2021. The Japanese central bank has for years adopted ultra-easy monetary policy in a bid to achieve its ever elusive inflation target. Asia-Pacific market were lower on Thursday as investors focus on the Bank of Japan's first policy meeting led by new BOJ governor Kazuo Ueda. Ueda is expected to maintain the ultra loose monetary policy of predecessor Haruhiko Kuroda for now, but expectations are that he will plot a path out of this policy in the future, according to media reports. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also seems set for a lower open as futures tied to the index traded at 19,735, compared to the 19,757 close on Wednesday.

☆ Asia markets mixed as Wall Street banking fears reignite
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Asia-Pacific markets were trading mixed on Wednesday after banking fears were reignited on Wall Street. Investors were also watching Australia's inflation numbers for the first quarter of 2023, which slowed to 7% year-on-year, down from a 23-year high of 7.8% the previous quarter. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.71% to end the day at 28,416.47 , and the Topix dropped 0.89% to finish at 2,023.9. Mainland Chinese markets ended mixed, with the Shenzhen Component up 0.33% to finish at 11,185.68 and the Shanghai Composite closing 0.02% lower at 3,264.1 . Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 0.7% up, while the Hang Seng Tech index rose 1.32%.

☆ The chips market is slowly grinding toward a recovery, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe chips market is slowly grinding toward a recovery, analyst saysJames Lim of Dalton Investments says recovery will be slow unless chip suppliers cut supply more aggressively.

☆ SK Hynix reports record quarterly operating loss, but expects rebound later this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this article .FKRX300 Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTwatch nowSouth Korean chipmaker SK Hynix has reported a record quarterly operating loss of 3.4 trillion won ($2.54 billion) for the first quarter of the year. This is a reversal from the 2.84 trillion won operating profit in the same period last year, and a larger loss from the the 1.89 trillion won operating loss the previous quarter. Employees stand in front of the SK Hynix Inc. logo displayed at the company's office in Seongnam, South Korea, on Monday, July 24, 2017. Shares of SK Hynix were higher by 1.75% in afternoon trade after surging as much as 3.5% earlier Wednesday. "We expect revenues to rebound in the second quarter after bottoming out in the first, driven by a gradual increase in sales volume," SK Hynix also said.

☆ Hong Kong falls 2%, leading losses in Asia as investors await Big Tech earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong markets led losses in Asia on Tuesday, with the Hang Seng sliding 1.97% as Asian stocks largely fell ahead of earnings from Big Tech firms. The Hang Seng Tech index saw a larger loss, tumbling 4% as technology stocks led losses on the HSI. Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are among the high-interest names scheduled to announce their results for the first quarter. "Everyone's just waiting for tech earnings," said Chris Harvey, head of equity strategy at Wells Fargo Securities. "This is a very, very busy week for earnings, so we're just treading water."

☆ Opinion | Hong Kong’s Memory Is Being Erased
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Louisa Lim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In Hong Kong the silence has set in much more quickly. I worked in Hong Kong’s once-cacophonous newsrooms and covered its boisterous protest rallies. Now most Hong Kong journalists I know have fallen silent. After a draconian national security law was imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, at least 12 news outlets closed down, including the popular, pro-democracy Apple Daily. History is identity, and to challenge this foundational tenet of Hong Kongers’ experience is to assault their identity.

☆ Asia-Pacific markets open mixed after Wall Street posts weekly loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

People picnic on the green roof of Marina Barrage in Singapore on Oct. 10, 2022. Asia-Pacific markets are trading mixed on Monday, ahead of a busy week of key economic releases in the region. Japanese markets were all higher, with the Nikkei 225 and the Topix both higher by 0.2%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.26%, while South Korea's Kospi slid 0.37% and the Kosdaq was slightly above the flatline. Some Southeast Asian markets are closed today for a holiday, including Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

☆ Americans Corpuz, Yin sit atop Chevron leaderboard heading into final round
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 22 (Reuters) - Americans Allisen Corpuz and Angel Yin charged up the leaderboard to share a one-shot lead at 10-under par after a pair of near-flawless performances in the third round of the Chevron Championship on Saturday. "Been playing really solid these last three days," the 25-year-old said in a televised interview. "I've just been trying to tell myself, you know, get more comfortable in contention, just keep learning from every experience." "It was one of those days -- everything felt so easy and everything felt in sync," she said in a televised interview. The second round of the tournament wrapped up early on Saturday after organisers were forced to halt play due to darkness.

☆ Asia Pacific markets mixed as Japan's core inflation holds steady
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A man pushes a trolley across a street in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong on November 22, 2022. Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday as Japan's core inflation for March came in at 3.1%, unchanged from February, data from the Statistics Bureau showed. This is the second straight month of slowing inflation after Japan's headline inflation hit a 41-year high of 4.3% in January. Private surveys for Japan and Australia's purchasing manager's index showed that factory activity in both countries continued to expand, powered by their respective services sectors. Hong Kong will also release its inflation data for March, which is expected to come in at 1.8%.

☆ Asia markets to open mixed as investors weigh more Wall Street earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Asia-Pacific markets are largely lower on Thursday as investors on Wall Street digest more earnings reports from names like Netflix, IBM and Morgan Stanley. While many of the companies reporting topped analysts' low-bar estimates, a lack of forecasts from the major companies also left investors on edge. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.5% in early trade, and the Topix also shed 0.54% as Japan's trade deficit hit a record high of 21.7 trillion yen ($161.14 billion) for its full year ending March. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 started the day marginally higher, while South Korea's Kospi slid 0.48% and the Kosdaq dipped 0.7%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index looks set for a positive open, with Hang Seng futures trading at 20,402, higher than the index's last close of 20,367.76.

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Wednesday as Wall Street's earnings season continued and U.S. Federal Reserve officials delivered mixed signals on future rate hikes. Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic told CNBC that he sees one more rate hike of 25 basis points, before pausing to see its impact on the economy. This would take the U.S. Federal Funds rate to 5% to 5.25%. Bostic's words come as St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard told Reuters that he favors a higher terminal rate of between 5.50% and 5.75%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was 0.11% up in early trading, while Japan's Nikkei 225 dipped 0.27% and the Topix fell 0.3%.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 7, 2023 - The Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, Jinmao Tower and World Financial Center are seen on Lujiazui Street, Shanghai, China, March 7, 2023. Asia-Pacific traded mixed on Monday, as Wall Street looks ahead to another major earnings week, including the likes of Charles Schwab, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley. The quarterly earnings reports would shed light into the overall health of the financial sector in the U.S. following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and how that would shape the U.S. Federal Reserve's tightening cycle. China's gross domestic product report is slated to be released on Tuesday, with economists polled by Reuters expecting to see a 4% rise year-on-year for the first quarter of 2023, higher than the final quarter of last year. That would mark the biggest rise in nearly a year.

Palm oil prices have fallen some 49% from last year's record, but the tight supply means they are expected to stay above pre-pandemic levels. Another palm oil giant, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLKK.KL), told Reuters it plans to replant 10,000 hectares this year, up from a lower-than-usual 6,000 hectares in 2022. The scheme targeted replanting of 2.4 million hectares but only managed to replant around 278,000 hectares by February, partly due to land legality issues. We are ageing faster than we are replanting," Malaysia Palm Oil Association chief executive Joseph Tek told Reuters. In Malaysia, replanting costs doubled to around $4,500 per hectare after the pandemic inflated prices of fertiliser and labour.

☆ Singapore's central bank warns of dim growth in 2023, but expects inflation to be significantly lower by year end
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A staff member counts Singapore dollar currency notes at Raffles Place financial business district in Singapore on October 6, 2022. However, compared with the previous quarter, GDP contracted by 0.7%, the first contraction since the second quarter of 2022. However, it expects that tighter financial conditions globally will lead to an intensified drag on global investment and manufacturing. The MAS said "growth in Singapore's major trading partners will be slower in 2023, below the pace recorded in the previous two years." The MAS expects 2023 GDP growth of between 0.5% and 2.5%, down from the 3.6% growth in 2022.watch nowSingapore's manufacturing sector makes up the largest portion of its GDP, standing at 21.6% of nominal GDP in 2022.

Asia-Pacific markets largely rose on Friday after Wall Street rose as the U.S. producer price index signaled further signs of cooling inflation. The March producer price index, a measure of prices paid by companies and often a leading indicator of consumer inflation, declined by 0.5% month-on-month, after the U.S. consumer price index saw the smallest increase in nearly two years. In Singapore, its central bank maintained its monetary policy as its core inflation remains at the highest levels in 14 years. The economy saw a quarterly contraction of 0.7% and a marginal growth of 0.1% year-on-year, advance estimates showed.

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