Hong Kong: Stocks open higher

Hong Kong stocks rose in the first few minutes of trade Friday as investors brushed off a shock dip in US manufacturing activity and looked ahead to the release of jobs data later in the day.

The Hang Seng Index added 0.33 per cent, or 76.02 points, to 23,238.36.

But the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.19 per cent, or 5.82 points, to 3,057.49 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, edged down 0.15 per cent, or 3.05 points, to 2,014.41.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Hot stock: Telcos fall on potential entry of 4th operator

SINGAPORE'S telcos fell on Friday after three firms formally submitted their bids to take part in an airwaves auction that could lead to the nation's fourth telco.

By 9.15am, Singtel was down seven cents to S$3.90 or 1.8 per cent; StarHub was down 15 cents to S$3.48, or 4.1 per cent; M1 was down 16 cents to S$2.50, or 6 per cent.

All three were among the top 10 stocks by value traded.

The contenders are newly formed company airYotta Pte Ltd; fibre broadband services provider MyRepublic; and TPG Telecom, a provider of telco services in Australia.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Malaysia: Shares open higher

MALAYSIA share prices opened higher on Friday with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index up 4.050 points to 1674.600.

Volume was 19.81 million lots worth RM8.65 million.

Gainers outnumbered glosers 73 to 32.

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Singapore shares open 0.3% down on Friday as traders await US jobs data

SINGAPORE stocks opened 0.3 per cent lower on Friday, with the Straits Times Index dropping 9.23 points to 2,807.24 as at 9am.

Traders are watching the release of US jobs data later tonight, as strong job gains will increase the certainty for a September rate hike.

"We expect that the solid pace of gains in recent months continued in August, and payrolls could have advanced by 225,000 in the month," said a Societe Generale research report.

In Singapore, about 49.5 million shares worth S$58.2 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.18.

The field was evenly matched, with as many gainers as losers at 54 each.

Top stocks by value traded were Singtel, SGX, SIA, Thai Beverage and Hongkong Land.

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Taiwan: Stocks dip to over one-week low; financial shares drop

Taiwan stocks fell on Thursday, tracking declines in overseas markets, with selling led by heavyweights in the financial sector.

Shares in Mega Financial Holding Co Ltd, which closed down for nine in 10 trading sessions, slipped 1.9 per cent early in the trade, following its chairman's resignation on Wednesday.

Shiu Kuang Si resigned from all his positions at the Taiwanese financial firm after its banking unit was fined last month for breach of anti-money laundering regulations in New York.

As of 0225 GMT, the main Taiex index dropped as much as 0.9 per cent to 8,980.21, to hit the lowest since August 22. The bourse closed down 0.5 per cent in the previous session.

The electronics subindex lost 0.5 per cent, while the financials subindex sank 1.1 per cent.

The Taiwan dollar firmed NT$0.013 to T$31.713 per US dollar.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Singapore shares open 0.1% up on Thursday

SINGAPORE stocks opened 0.1 per cent higher on Thursday, with the Straits Times Index advancing 2.11 points to 2,822.7 as at 9.01am.

Markets are in wait-and-see mode ahead of US jobs data to be released on Friday night, Asia time.

In Singapore, about 50.7 million shares worth S$90.4 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.78. The field was evenly matched, with as many gainers as losers at 53 each.

The most actively traded counter was Noble, which fell S$0.002 to S$0.117 with 5.8 million shares changing hands.

Other actives included Golden Agri-Resources and Charisma Energy.

Top stocks by value traded were Singtel, DBS, Jardine Matheson, Keppel Corp and OCBC.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Seoul: Won, stocks tread water; major economies' data awaited

The South Korean won and shares made only small moves early on Wednesday, with many investors staying on the sidelines as views on how soon US interest rates will rise changing often.

The won stood at 1,116.7 as of 0214 GMT, up 0.3 per cent from Tuesday's close of 1,119.9.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) was down 0.3 per cent at 2,034.60 points.

Jung Sung-yoon, a foreign exchange analyst at Hyundai Futures, expects moves could get sharper as economic indicators from major economies including the US and China come out in the near future.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Oil heads for biggest monthly gain since April before Opec talks

Oil is poised for the biggest monthly advance since April amid speculation informal talks among Opec members in Algeria next month may result in action to stabilise the market.

Futures slid 0.3 per cent in New York, trimming the monthly gain to 11 per cent. Iraq would support a proposal for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers to freeze output, Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi said in Baghdad.

US crude stockpiles increased by 942,000 barrels last week, the industry-funded American Petroleum Institute was said to report. Government data due Wednesday is forecast to show a 1.3 million build.

Oil entered a bull market Aug 18, less than three weeks after tumbling into a bear market. A cap on production would be positive for the market, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said in an interview last week, while ruling out a cut to output. A deal to freeze supply was proposed in February but a meeting in April ended with no final accord.
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Tokyo: Shares edge lower as soft data offsets weak yen

Tokyo shares ended slightly lower on Tuesday as tepid data and profit-taking from the previous day's sharp jump offset a weaker yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.07 per cent, or 12.13 points, to close at 16,725.36, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares ticked down 0.03 per cent, or 0.43 point, to 1,312.81.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Australia shares bounce on Wall Street, financials lead; NZ stocks up

Australian shares bounced on Tuesday, supported by overnight strength on Wall Street and upbeat US consumer spending data, with gains in the financial sector leading the way.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 28.2 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 5497.6 by 0245 GMT, after hitting its lowest in over a month in the previous session due to concerns of a near-term US interest rate hike.

But strong US consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, lifted the mood.

Investors are now turning their attention to US payroll data later on Friday to gauge if the Federal Reserve might be in a position to raise rates before year-end.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Oil prices rise as US dollar retreats from two-week high

Oil futures edged up on Tuesday as the US dollar erased earlier gains, but doubts that producers would be able to agree to an output freeze continued to drag on prices.

International Brent crude oil futures were trading at US$49.34 per barrel at 0125 GMT, up 8 US cents from their previous close.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 15 US cents at US$47.13 a barrel.

The US dollar retreated from Monday's two-week high as investors looked ahead to jobs data this week that Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer has said will be important to whether the US central bank raises interest rates soon.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Asia: Most markets slump, Tokyo soars on US rate talk

Japanese stocks rallied on a weaker yen but other Asian markets retreated Monday after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen hinted at a US interest rate hike by the end of the year.

In a much-anticipated speech Friday Yellen said a pick-up in the world's top economy and an improvement in the jobs market meant "the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened in recent months".

While there is speculation rates could rise as early as next month, most experts had said that is unlikely and that December or February would be safer bets.

Yellen did not give a timeframe during her speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium of global central bankers, but Fed vice chairman Stanley Fischer later said September was a possibility.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Australia: Shares at 1-month low on US rate rise concerns

Australian stocks fell for a third straight session on Monday to their lowest in over a month as sentiment was dampened by comments from top US Fed officials raising the possibility of an interest rate hike this year.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.4 per cent as of 0232 GMT. The benchmark lost 0.5 per cent last Friday.

Fed chair Janet Yellen told a global monetary policy conference last Friday that the case for a rate increase had grown stronger, but she did not indicate when the Fed might hike rates.

However, Fed vice chair Stanley Fischer suggested a move could come at the central bank's September policy meeting if the economy was doing well.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Hong Kong, Shanghai: Stocks open down after Yellen rate hike hint

Shares fell in the first few minutes of trade in Hong Kong Monday after Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen suggested US interest rates could be lifted before the end of the year.

The Hang Seng Index slipped 0.16 per cent, or 36.28 points, to 22,873.26.

And the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.06 per cent, or 1.85 points, to 3,068.46, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, slipped 0.07 per cent, or 1.41 points, to 2,021.68.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Taiwan: Stocks fall on weaker overseas markets, technical selling in TSMC

Taiwan stocks fell on Monday tracking weakness in overseas markets and on technical selling in heavyweight chipmaker TSMC.

Most Asian shares slipped in early trade on Monday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen indicated a possible rate hike in the US later this year.

As of 0244 GMT, the main TAIEX index fell 0.7 per cent to 9,070.84, after closing up 0.2 per cent in the previous session.

The electronics subindex fell 0.7 per cent, but the financials subindex gained 0.1 per cent.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Seoul: Won, stocks fall on growing chance of Fed rate hike soon

The South Korean won plunged more than 1 per cent against the dollar early on Monday after Janet Yellen's comments on Friday raised the chance the Federal Reserve may raise US interest rates soon, and even twice, by year-end.

The won was quoted at 1,124.1 as of 0214 GMT, down 0.9 per cent from the previous close of 1,113.7. It reached as low as 1,128.5, a one-week intraday low.

Ms Yellen suggested that the US economy has strengthened enough for a rate hike while Fed's No 2 policymaker Stanley Fischer hinted on more than one policy tightening before year end.

"The US August job report due this coming Friday will be closely watched by investors for whether a rate hike as early as next month will actually be possible," said Park Sung-woo, a foreign exchange analyst at NH Futures.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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US dollar dips as dealers hope for US rate policy clues

The US dollar dipped Friday as dealers focus on a speech by Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen later in the day they hope will supply fresh clues about the central bank's outlook for the US economy and monetary policy plans.

Markets hope Ms Yellen will provide some guidance in her remarks to the annual global bankers' symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming later Friday.

Her speech comes as leading central banks have proven unable to convincingly reverse a broad economic slump, despite years of ultra low borrowing costs and stimulus.

Divergent views from Fed officials in recent weeks have kept markets guessing about the bank's intentions.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Seoul: Won, stocks take breather ahead of Yellen's speech

The South Korean won advanced on local exporters' demand on Friday, but gains were capped as traders looked ahead to a meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with all eyes on a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

The won was quoted at 1,114.2 against the US dollar as of 0200 GMT, up 0.2 per cent versus its previous close.

"Trading is expected to be mixed throughout the session on exporters' dollar sales and caution over a US interest rate hike in the near-term," said Jung Sung Yoon, an analyst at Hyundai Futures.

South Korean shares sagged for a third session but like the won, trading was subdued ahead of Ms Yellen's speech later in the day at the annual gathering of central bankers. The focus is on whether Ms Yellen could provide more clarity on US rates outlook for the rest of the year.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Singapore shares open flat on Friday ahead of Fed chief's speech

SINGAPORE shares opened flat on Friday ahead of a speech by US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen, with the Straits Times Index gaining just 0.08 points to 2,877.01 as at 9.04am.

Gainers matched losers 57 to 53 after 37.2 million shares worth S$48.6 million changed hands.

Land transport company ComfortDelGro Corporation was among the top actives, trading unchanged at S$2.82 after 2.7 million shares changed hands.

Industrial conglomerate Keppel Corporation was also flat at S$5.39 with 1.6 million shares traded.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Stocks to watch: IHH, Croesus Retail Trust, Sim Lian

EARNINGS dominated overnight news heading into Friday's market opening.

IHH Healthcare's second-quarter net profit rose 8 per cent to RM246.1 million (S$82.2 million) on the back of gains from a divestment and foreign exchange. The group posted a RM54.8 million gain from selling its 90 per cent stake in Shenton Insurance.

Croesus Retail Trust raised its distribution per unit to 1.7 Singapore cents for the fourth quarter as fair-value adjustments dragged down net profit by 21.8 per cent to 4.4 billion yen (S$59 million).

The Japan-focused real estate investment trust's net property income rose 19.4 per cent to 1.44 billion yen in the three months ended June 30, but fair-value gains on investment properties slipped 6.2 per cent to 5.6 billion yen while derivative financial instruments incurred a loss of 820.6 million yen compared to a year-ago gain of 233.7 million yen.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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