An Hour Ago
South Korean exports growth surges on strong chip demand
South Korean exports in February rose 4.8% from a year earlier to $52.41 billion, beating Reuters’ estimates of a 1.9% increase, on strong demand for its semiconductors, preliminary government data showed.
The export print compares to a 18% growth in January. Overall, imports fell by 13.1%, steeper than estimates of a 10.4% drop.
“The ICT cycle (Information and Communications Technology cycle) is on an upturn,” said Trinh Nguyen, senior economist at Natixis. “With the manufacturing cycle returning to to growth in the U.S., that should support South Korea,” she added.
—Lee Ying Shan
2 Hours Ago
Japan’s February factory activity contracts at fastest pace in over three years
Japan’s February factory activity shrank at the fastest pace in more than three years on the back of weakening demand.
The au Jibun Bank’s flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to to 47.2 in February, compared with January’s 48.0 reading, indicating continued contraction in private sector business activity.
The reading signals a ninth consecutive deterioration in business activity and the strongest contraction recorded since August 2020, according to au Jibun Bank.
Japan’s benchmark index has continued to extend its rally after surging to an all-time high last week. The Nikkei 225 was trading 1.83% higher at 39,883.86 in Friday morning trading.
—Lee Ying Shan
4 Hours Ago
China manufacturing contracts for fifth straight month, official data shows
Workers make charging equipment for new energy vehicles at a workshop of Shandong Dingsheng Electric Equipment in Zaozhuang, east China’s Shandong province.
Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images
China’s manufacturing activity contracted for a fifth straight month in February, official figures on Friday showed, which were at odds with a private survey that signaled factory activity expanded.
Data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics showed manufacturing PMI fell to 49.1 in February from 49.2 in January. The reading was in line with a Reuters poll estimate.
The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI, however, edged up to 50.9 in February from 50.8 in the previous month.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while below that denotes a contraction.
“Companies noted further upturns in both production and new work, with rates of growth quickening slightly from January, helped in part by a rise in new export orders,” the private Caixin survey read.
— Shreyashi Sanyal
5 Hours Ago
India’s third-quarter economic growth soars past expectations
A pedestrian watches a digital screen at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai on February 1, 2022.
Punit Paranjpe | Afp | Getty Images
India’s economy grew much faster than expected in the October to December quarter, and at its fastest pace in six quarters.
Data showed GDP grew 8.4% in the third fiscal quarter, blowing past Reuters Poll expectations of 6.6% growth, on the back of higher private consumption and strong manufacturing and construction activity.
The October-December quarter reading was also higher than the 7.6% growth clocked in the prior three months.
The Indian government raised its GDP growth outlook for fiscal year 2023-24 to 7.6% from 7.3% forecast earlier.
The data also boosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic record ahead of a highly anticipated national election.
“For PM Modi and BJP who will be going to the polls in April-May, it will yet provide another boost. For RBI (Reserve Bank of India), the strong growth momentum will only reinforce their bias to stay on hold at 6.5% for the foreseeable future,” Commerzbank analysts wrote in a note.
— Shreyashi Sanyal
7 Hours Ago
Ray Dalio says the U.S. stock market ‘doesn’t look very bubbly’
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio believes the U.S. stock market is not in a speculative bubble.
The founder of Bridgewater, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, analyzed the market based on his bubble criteria, which includes valuation, sentiment, new buyers and unsustainable conditions.
“When I look at the U.S. stock market using these criteria, it — and even some of the parts that have rallied the most and gotten media attention — doesn’t look very bubbly,” he said in a new LinkedIn post published Thursday.
— Yun Li
7 Hours Ago
Dell shares soar 20% after strong earnings
Shares of Dell Technologies jumped more than 18% in extended trading after the tech company posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results. Dell also showed strong demand for its artificial intelligence servers.
Chief Financial Officer Yvonne McGill said the company is increasing its annual dividend by 20% to $1.78 per share, which she called a “testament to our confidence in the business.”
— Yun Li
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