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☆ How investors are playing emerging market opportunities in India and Japan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Anna Gleason | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Investors are increasingly looking to emerging market exchange-traded funds for growth at a reasonable price. David Mann, head of capital markets at Franklin Templeton, named India as one of the most popular countries with ETF investors in the past year. "[It] has been one of the emerging market standouts thus far, so India has been a great story." The firm's Franklin FTSE India ETF (FLIN) has risen 18.19% in the past year, as of Tuesday's close. As of Tuesday's close, the firm's Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP) gained 12.58% in the past year.

Persons: David Mann, Franklin Templeton, CNBC's, Mike Akins, Akins, Franklin Templeton's Mann, Action's Akins Organizations: Franklin, Franklin FTSE, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Infosys, Toyota Motor, Sony Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Locations: India, Franklin, Franklin FTSE India, Japan, U.S, Franklin FTSE Japan

☆ 'A lot of ifs and leaps of faith': 7 investment chiefs and strategists break down earnings trends in what may be a make-or-break Q4, and 3 sectors to watch
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Markets are closely monitoring Q4 earnings results, which began rolling out in mid-January, since they give much-needed clarity on the prior year while setting the tone for the year ahead. AdvertisementWhat to expect during the Q4 earnings seasonEarnings seasons often bring surprises, but there are also bankable bets. But we're going to be driven more by the macro, if we're excluding these mega-cap tech stocks." 3 sectors with boom-or-bust potentialWhile the strategists Business Insider spoke with didn't provide investing recommendations, several shared which sectors they're watching in Q4. Bianco believes the tech sector's earnings will rise over 20% this year.

Persons: —, Matt Stucky, Stucky, David Kelly, UBS Josh Jamner, That's, Jamner, Carol Schleif, Schleif, there's, Anthony Saglimbene, David Bianco, Saglimbene, Bianco, Brad Klapmeyer, Klapmeyer, " Bianco, Ameriprise's Saglimbene, BMO's Schleif, Indrani De, De, she's, he'd, that's Organizations: Service, Business, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, Asset Management, UBS, ClearBridge Investments, BMO Family Office, DWS, Macquarie Asset Management, FTSE Russell Locations: Americas

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares fell Tuesday in Asia, with Hong Kong’s benchmark down nearly 2%, as jitters over Chinese markets dimmed confidence across the region. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index fell, snapping a New Year’s winning streak that took it to its highest level in 34 years. The dollar weakened against the Japanese yen even as a former central bank official said that the Bank of Japan is preparing to end its longstanding negative interest rate policy. The dollar bought 146.12 yen, up from 145.75 late Monday and at its highest level in more than one month. Traders are largely betting on the Fed cutting its main interest rate six or more times through 2024.

Persons: —, Meituan, Kristalina Georgieva, Kospi, Germany's DAX, It's, Brent Organizations: Dow Jones, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Tencent, China Garden Holding, Ocean, IMF, CNBC, CAC, Traders, Fed, New York Mercantile Exchange Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, U.S, Shanghai, China, Beijing, South, Australia, Paris

☆ Fat Cat Thursday: UK CEO pay already exceeds average worker salary for the year
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The average FTSE 100 CEO will have earned more this year than the median full-time worker's annual salary by 1 p.m. London time on Thursday, according to estimates from the High Pay Centre think tank. The calculations are based on the High Pay Centre's analysis of the most recent available CEO pay figures from British blue-chip companies' annual reports, compared with government data on pay levels across the U.K. economy. Median FTSE 100 CEO pay (excluding pension) currently stands at £3.81 million ($4.84 million), 109 times the median full-time worker's pay of £34,963, the think tank said. This represents a 9.5% increase on median CEO pay levels as of March 2023, while the median worker's pay has risen by 6%. The High Pay Centre highlighted that in December, Legal and General Investment Management adjusted its executive pay guidelines to permit companies it invests in to offer more generous incentive payments.

Persons: Britain aren't, Luke Hildyard Organizations: General Investment Management Locations: London, Britain

☆ JPMorgan nailed its 2023 forecast for European stocks. Here’s its 2024 call
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JPMorgan predicts European stock markets will struggle to produce positive returns next year as investors digest slowing economic growth across the continent. The forecast for 2024 comes from the same team of strategists that have, so far, accurately called the MSCI Eurozone's performance this year. They expected the index to rise 9.1% to close at 256 points by the end of December 2023 on a local currency basis. "We look for flat European [earnings per share] growth in 2024, based on no recession materializing," said JPMorgan strategists led by Mislav Matejka in a note to clients on Nov. 29. The JPMorgan strategists believe stocks will sink in the first half of 2024 as markets factor in potential downward adjustments to earnings estimates.

Persons: Mislav Matejka, CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: JPMorgan, FTSE

☆ London stock market trading resumes after small cap outage
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage for the London Stock Exchange Group is seen outside of offices in Canary Wharf in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. "Impacted securities are now in regular trading," LSEG said in a notice published on its website. FTSE 100 (.FTSE), FTSE 250 (.FTMC) and International Order Book securities - shares listed in London by overseas companies - had continued to trade normally, the exchange said. It is the second time LSEG has flagged a disruption to trading in smaller stocks on the London market in less than two months. In 2019, the London Stock Exchange suffered an almost two-hour outage that hit FTSE 100 and midcap stocks, which LSEG said was caused by a “technical software issue”.

Persons: Toby Melville, LSEG, Thomson, Danilo Masoni, Alun John, Amanda Cooper, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: London Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Tullow, CMC, FTSE, Thomson Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, LSEG

☆ Asia shares turn mixed, gold tops $2,100 an ounce
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was still up 0.4%, led by gains in South Korea and Australia. Trade figures for China are due later in the week with the recent trend being softening exports to the U.S. overshadowing gains in Asia. S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1%, after finishing at a 20-month high on Friday, while Nasdaq futures lost 0.2%. The dive in yields and the dollar has been a boon for non-yielding gold, which added 0.9% to $2,088 an ounce, after hitting a record of $2,111.39 an ounce . Oil prices have not been so fortunate, amid doubts OPEC+ will be able to maintain planned output cuts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Jerome Powell, Claudio Irigoyen, Joachim Nagel, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Sam Holmes Organizations: Nikkei, payrolls Shipping, Japan's Nikkei, FTSE, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan's, European Central Bank, ECB, Sea, Thomson Locations: Red Sea, SYDNEY, U.S, Israel, Red, Asia, Pacific, Japan, South Korea, Australia, China, Canada

☆ GSK CEO says RSV vaccine revenue to top 1 bln pounds in first year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Michele Gershberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

GSK had previously forecast 2023 sales for Arexvy between 900 million pounds and 1 billion pounds ($1.26 billion) following a strong U.S. launch. "We’re delighted with the start of our RSV vaccine," Walmsley said in a Reuters Newsmaker interview. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Arexvy for adults aged 60 years or older in May and GSK launched the vaccine in the U.S. later in the year. GSK made close to two-thirds of RSV doses given in the United States since early September, according to IQVIA data earlier this month. On Tuesday, rival Pfizer (PFE.N) said it was disappointed in the performance of its RSV shot Abrysvo compared with GSK.

Persons: Walmsley, GSK's, Emma Walmsley, We’re, David Denton, AstraZeneca's, commercialise Johnson, Ludwig Burger, Michael Erman, Josephine Mason, Kirsten Donovan, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: GSK, Reuters, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, U.S, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, Europe, Japan, United States

☆ UK's FTSE 100 lags regional peers as banks, insurers fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index dipped 0.1%, while the pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) rose 0.5%. The life insurance sector (.FTNMX303010) fell 0.4%, with Prudential (PRU.L) slipping 0.7% after Deutsche Bank reduced its price target on the stock. Banks (.FTNMX301010) slipped 1.7% following a 2.3% fall in HSBC (HSBA.L), which was the biggest weight on the FTSE 100. Among individual stocks Halfords Group (HFD.L) plunged 21.1% after the bicycles-to-car parts retailer narrowed its annual profit forecast range. Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Eileen SorengOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toby Melville, Andrew Bailey, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, Eddie Cheng, Banks, Shashwat Chauhan, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Eileen Soreng Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, REUTERS, Aviva, Bank of England, Prudential, Deutsche Bank, U.S . Federal Reserve, Allspring Global Investments, HSBC, Halfords, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Europe, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Asia's first ETF tracking Saudi equities debuts in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bull statues in front of screens showing Hong Kong stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 29 (Reuters) - A new exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking Saudi equities made its trading debut in Hong Kong on Wednesday, becoming the first product of its kind in Asia amid warming bilateral relations between China and Saudi Arabia. The ETF, called CSOP Saudi Arabia ETF (2830.HK), is managed by Hong Kong-based CSOP Asset Management. "Today is a milestone in our financial cooperation with Saudi Arabia," said Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan at a launch event. Through the ETF, investors in Hong Kong will be able to trade Saudi stocks including the oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) and the Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) in Hong Kong dollars or Chinese yuan.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, CSOP, Paul Chan, Yazeed, Humied, PIF, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi, Saudi Arabia ETF, HK, Management, Public Investment Fund, Hong, Hong Kong Financial, FTSE, Saudi Aramco, Saudi National Bank, Reuters, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, bourse, ETF, People's Bank of China, Saudi Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Exchange, China, HONG KONG, Asia, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, FTSE Saudi Arabia, Europe, East, Africa, Beijing, Riyadh

☆ Asian stocks subdued as traders brace for inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"But I think it's not just this week's inflation indicator, it's also the December payroll numbers ... they'll be quite critical." "Our view is that the Fed will probably start cutting rates when inflation goes below the 3% mark. The weaker-than-expected data weighed on Treasury yields, with the yield on benchmark 10-year notes slipping 9.6 basis points on Monday. The dollar index , a measure of the greenback against a basket of currencies, fell to 103.07, its lowest since Aug. 31. Data showed retail sales in Australia unexpectedly slipped in October as consumers cut back on everything but food, though analysts believe many were merely saving some money to splurge on Black Friday sales that took place this month.

Persons: DAX, Vasu Menon, they'll, Menon, Dave Ramsden, Christine Lagarde, Jerome Powell, HSI, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Sam Holmes, Kim Coghill Organizations: Federal, Investors, OCBC Bank, of England, European Central Bank, Japan's Nikkei, Treasury, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Singapore, U.S, Hong Kong, Australia

☆ London stocks fall as investors await more data; Rolls-Royce shines
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A street cleaning operative walks past the London Stock Exchange Group building in the City of London financial district, whilst British stocks tumble as investors fear that the coronavirus outbreak could stall the global economy, in London, Britain, March 9, 2020. The exporter-heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 0.6% touching a two-week low intraday, while the more domestically-oriented FTSE 250 midcap index (.FTMC) also shed 0.6%. Personal goods (.FTNMX402040) led declines among the major FTSE 350 sectors, with Burberry Group (BRBY.L) falling 2.7% after HSBC reduced the stock's price target. Investors will look ahead to UK mortgage data, inflation prints across the eurozone, and a Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report in the U.S. - the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge - later this week. Man Group (EMG.L) fell 3.2% after Morgan Stanley downgraded the hedge fund manager's stock to "Equal-Weight" from "Overweight".

Persons: Toby Melville, inflation's, Andrew Jones, Janus Henderson, Dave Ramsden, Jonathan Haskel, Pearson, Morgan Stanley, Shashwat Chauhan, Sonia Cheema Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, REUTERS, Royce, Burberry Group, HSBC, PT Pearson, Man, Janus Henderson Investors, Bank of England's, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Asia stocks swing lower, gold climbs as oil slips
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

One mover was gold, which climbed to $2,009.87 an ounce and briefly hit a six-month top of $2,017.82. S&P 500 futures eased 0.2% and Nasdaq futures lost 0.4%. "Indeed, this message of patience is likely to be notable in upcoming DM policy communications in response to recent financial market developments." Markets priced in 80 basis points of U.S. easing next year, and around 82 basis points for the ECB. Reports suggest African oil producers are seeking higher caps for 2024, while Saudi Arabia may extend its additional 1 million bpd voluntary production cut, which is due to expire at the end of December.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jerome Powell, Bruce Kasman, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Nikkei, SYDNEY, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Federal, JPMorgan, European Central Bank, EU, ECB, CBA, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Saudi Arabia, OPEC

☆ Asia stocks turn lower, gold jumps as oil slips
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

S&P 500 futures eased 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures lost 0.4%. That in turn has been a drag on the dollar which has lost 3% on a basket of major counterparts this month . Reports suggest African oil producers are seeking higher caps for 2024, while Saudi Arabia may extend its additional 1 million bpd voluntary production cut, which is due to expire at the end of December. "Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ faces a challenge in convincing markets that it can help keep oil markets tight in 2024," wrote commodity analysts at CBA in a note. "OPEC+ will have to show significant supply discipline, or at least jawbone such ability, to alleviate market worries of a deep surplus in oil markets next year."

Persons: Issei Kato, Jerome Powell, Bruce Kasman, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Nikkei, SYDNEY, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Federal, JPMorgan, European Central Bank, EU, ECB, Australian, CBA, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Saudi Arabia, OPEC

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares declined Friday in Asia, with Hong Kong's benchmark retreating on selling of property shares following recent gains. Japan reported its consumer inflation rose for the first time in four months, with big gains in food prices and hotel rates as tourism has soared. Political Cartoons View All 1265 ImagesChinese shares fell back after recent gains driven by expectations of more government support for debt-burdened property developers. On Thursday, European shares edged higher in thin trading. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.2% higher to 7,483.58.

Persons: ” Robert Carnell, Min Joo Kang, Korea's, Germany’s DAX Organizations: —, Bank of, ING Economics, Nikkei, CAC, Dow, Nasdaq, Black, Walmart, Saks Fifth, Federal, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Australia, Bangkok, Paris

☆ Stock Market News: Black Friday Gets Under Way
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Will investors spot any stock-market bargains, and what will they learn about the resilience of the U.S. consumer? Meantime, index futures are muted in early trading, ahead of a holiday-shortened session. And oil prices have stabilized after recent weakness, driven in part by tensions within the OPEC+ cartel. U.S. markets will close early. In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 2% and the Shanghai Composite lost 0.7% after rallying the day before.

Persons: It's, Dow industrials Organizations: Investors, Stock, Nasdaq, Dow, The New York Stock Exchange, Brent, Shanghai Locations: OPEC, U.S, Asia, Hong, Europe

☆ Asia stocks hold gains as confidence grows on rate outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China's benchmark share index (.CSI300) fell 0.16% on Thursday, with the real estate sub-index (.CSI931775) retrieved earlier losses to gain 2.11%. Chinese government advisers will recommend to an annual policymakers' meeting that economic growth targets for next year be set at 4.5% to 5.5%, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Markets have generally been buoyant this month, with stocks rallying on expectations of a more benign interest rate backdrop. The next set of forward-looking flash November PMIs will help investors to assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts might begin. The minutes of the European Central Bank's October meeting and flash PMIs for a host of European countries are Thursday's highlights.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, shrugged, Redmond Wong, Brent, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Bitcoin, Selena Li, Edmund Klamann, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Garden Holdings, HK, Reuters, U.S, The, Federal Reserve, Saxo Markets, Nikkei, Nasdaq, European Central, PMI, OPEC, FTSE, UK Finance, Thomson Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Asia, Pacific, Japan, United States, The U.S, Greater China, Australia, Britain, U.S

☆ Holiday thins trading after data slows dollar's decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Vidya Ranganathan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With markets shut in Japan and the United States for the Thanksgiving holiday, currencies barely moved and cash U.S. Treasuries weren't traded in Asia. By 0530 GMT, however, the euro was 0.15% higher at $1.0902 and the dollar index was a tad weaker at 103.71. Adding to investors' confusion, data showed orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods fell more than expected in October, signalling an economy cooling considerably after hot third-quarter growth. The dollar's rebound comes after a three-week long spell of weakness driven by evidence of a slowing economy and disinflation, leading markets to price out any additional Fed rate hikes. The forward-looking flash November purchasing manager indexes (PMIs) are also due out globally on Thursday and should help investors assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts will begin.

Persons: Marcos Brindicci, Treasuries weren't, Jeff Ng, Treasuries, policymaker Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Vidya Ranganathan, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Federal, University of Michigan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Fed, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Governing, PMI, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rights SINGAPORE, Japan, United States, Asia, Britain, U.S

☆ Morning Bid: Watching what the ECB giveth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Vidya Ranganathan. The forward-looking flash November PMIs due out globally should help investors assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts will begin. Interest rate futures show the market is pricing in rate cuts by April and more aggressively so in June . Later on Thursday, Sweden's central bank will announce its latest policy decision in what is expected to be a very close call on whether to hike again. A Reuters poll showed 10 of 19 economists looked for a rise, while market pricing is leaning against a move.

Persons: Vidya Ranganathan, haven't, Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel's, Christine Lagarde's, Jeremy Hunt's, Van Haaren, ECB's Isabel Schnabel, Robert Holzmann, Francois Villeroy de, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Vidya, European Central, PMI, ECB, Reuters, Ubezpieczen SA, Virgin Money, Bank of France, Thomson Locations: Japan, United States, Britain, U.S, Sweden's

☆ Asia stocks hold recent gains as confidence grows on rate outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Investors are also looking to Chinese policymakers for clues on possible support for the long-suffering property market, in line with broader growth targets they are hammering out. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged down 0.11% in thin trading, with Japan and the United States on holiday. Chinese government advisers will recommend to an annual policymakers' meeting that economic growth targets for next year be set at 4.5% to 5.5%, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Markets have generally been buoyant this month, with stocks rallying on expectations of a more benign interest rate backdrop. The next set of forward-looking flash November PMIs will help investors to assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts might begin.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, shrugged, Redmond Wong, Brent, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Selena Li, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Saxo Markets, Nikkei, Reuters, Nasdaq, OPEC, FTSE, UK Finance, Thomson Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Asia, Pacific, Japan, United States, U.S, Greater China, Australia, Britain

☆ Holiday thins trading after data nudges dollar higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

With markets shut in Japan and the United States for the Thanksgiving holiday, currencies barely moved and cash U.S. Treasuries weren't traded in Asia. The dollar index rose overnight, bouncing from a 2-1/2 month low, after economic data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week. The weakness in the dollar has buoyed the yen , along with expectations the Bank of Japan may shift away from its ultra-loose monetary policy next year. The dollar index was just 0.03% lower at 103.84, with the euro unchanged at $1.0887. The forward-looking flash November purchasing manager indexes, or PMIs, are also due out globally on Thursday and should help investors assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts will begin.

Persons: Treasuries weren't, Jeff Ng, Treasuries, policymaker Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao Organizations: U.S ., Federal Reserve, University of Michigan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Fed, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Governing, PMI Locations: Japan, United States, Asia, Britain, U.S

NatWest Group bank logo and decreasing stock graph are seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. "I will explore options for a NatWest retail share offer in the next 12 months subject to supportive market conditions and achieving value for money," Hunt said on Wednesday. NatWest shares dipped on Hunt's comments and were last down 1.1% at 204.7 pence, compared with a 0.2% fall in the FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index. The stock is the worst performing FTSE 100 British bank stock this year, down more than a fifth, according to Eikon data. That investment turned sour for many and shares in the renamed holding company International Distributions Service (IDSI.L) are now worth 25% less than its 330 pence offer price.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, Sid, Alasdair Haynes, Nigel Farage, Alison Rose, Iain Withers, Sinead Cruise, David Milliken, Sarah Young, William James, Elaine Hardcastle, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: NatWest Group, REUTERS, Companies, NatWest, Aquis, Royal Mail, Distributions Service, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson

Investors cautioned that tax breaks would not be sufficient to raise business investment while UK interest rates stayed high. But Wednesday, equity markets focused on Hunt's business boosts, such as a move to make full expensing on investment permanent. UK stock markets have underperformed their European and U.S. peers in 2023. The FTSE 100 index 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio is around 10.7, about half that of U.S. stocks, with Hunt's budget unlikely to move the dial too far. Reuters GraphicsSTERLING SOGGYThe pound struggled to gain any traction on the back of Hunt's budget.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Kwasi Kwarteng, Leigh Himsworth, Simon Harvey, Philip Shaw, Thomas McGarrity, Fuller, Smith, Turner, Oli Creasey, It's, BoE, GILTS, Craig Erlam, Goldman Sachs, Naomi Rovnick, Samuel Indyk, Lucy Raitano, Amanda Cooper, Harry Robertson, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Wednesday, Traders, Investors, Fidelity International, Reuters Graphics, Bank of England, BT, Investec, RBC Wealth Management, Reuters, BREWERS, Debt Management, Reuters Graphics STERLING, Thomson Locations: U.S, Cheviot, gilts, London

☆ Stocks in Asia hit 2-month high, dollar defensive on Fed view
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A passerby walks past an electric monitor displaying various countries' stock price index outside a bank in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2023. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was 0.97% higher at 510.11 having touched 511.05, the highest since Sept. 18. In rest of Asia, Japan's Nikkei (.N225) edged higher and remained close to the 33-year high it toucehd on Monday. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.22% to 148.03 per dollar, lifting away from the one-year low of 151.92 it touched last week. The Australian dollar , often seen as a barometer of risk appetite, touched a three-month high of $0.65775 earlier in the session.

Persons: Issei Kato, DAX, Wall, Sam Altman, Ben Bennett, Nicholas Chia, murmurs, Hong, HSI, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, . Federal, Nvidia, Microsoft, Stock, Traders, Legal, General Investment Management, Standard Chartered, Japan's Nikkei, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Europe, Thursday's U.S

Money market traders are betting September's hike was the last, with almost 90 basis points of rate cuts priced by the end of 2024. European shares underperforming their U.S. counterparts was a common expectation amongst the survey's European respondents as the robust American economy looks more likely to achieve a 'soft landing' than Europe. European shares are much cheaper than those in the U.S., possibly reflecting the worse economic outlook. The STOXX Europe 600 trades at over 12 times 12-month forward earnings, a 35.6% discount to the S&P 500 (.SPX). "Still, as the broader economic slowdown takes hold of the continent's markets, we expect to see a rather challenging second half of 2024."

Persons: Chris Beauchamp, Thomas Monteiro, Germany's DAX, Fiona Cincotta, Cincotta, Investing.com's Monteiro, Monteiro, Samuel Indyk, Danilo Masoni, Pranoy Krishna, Rahul Trivedi, Sarupya Ganguly, Jason Neely Organizations: IG, European Central Bank, ECB, Investing.com, FTSE, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Europe, Germany, riskier, U.S, Bengaluru

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