MONEY MASTER

Netflix  shares fell more than  8% in after-hours trading , as a  disappointing second-quarter outlook  and leadership changes outweighed otherwise solid first-quarter results. Weak Guidance Sparks Sell-Off Netflix forecast  Q2 earnings of US$0.78 per share , below analyst expectations of  US$0.84 , while revenue is projected at  US$12.57 billion , missing the  US$12.64 billion consensus . The weaker guidance raised concerns over  near-term growth momentum , triggering a sharp negative market reaction. Strong Q1 Performance Fails to Impress For the first quarter: Revenue rose 16% YoY to US$12.25 billion  (above estimates) Earnings surged 86% to US$1.23 per share However, earnings were boosted by a  US$2.8 billion one-off termination fee , reducing the quality of underlying growth. Operating margin improved to  32.3% , but still came in  below expectations (32.4%) , further dampening sentiment. Rising Costs and Strategic Sh...

Singapore shares opened slightly lower on Friday, even as  US tech stocks surged to fresh highs , with investors balancing  AI-driven optimism against geopolitical and trade uncertainties . STI Edges Lower Amid Mixed Market Breadth The  FTSE Straits Times Index  slipped  0.12% to 5,001.82  in early trade. Market breadth was mixed: Advancers: 88 Decliners: 79 This reflects a  cautious tone , despite strong global cues. Wall Street Hits Record Highs on AI Momentum US equities extended their rally, led by technology stocks: Nasdaq Composite   +0.4% (record high) S&P 500   +0.3% (record high) Dow Jones Industrial Average   +0.2% The Nasdaq marked its  12th consecutive gain , its longest streak since 2009. The rally was driven by AI-related developments, led by  Advanced Micro Devices , which surged  7.8%  after securing a  French government AI deal . Other tech gainers included  Oracle ,  Microsoft , an...

Asian equities retreated on Friday as investors turned cautious,  locking in gains after a strong global rally  while awaiting clearer signals on a potential  US-Iran ceasefire extension . Regional Stocks Slip After Multi-Day Rally The  MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  fell  0.8% , snapping a  three-day winning streak . Key markets across the region also declined: Topix   -1.1% Hang Seng Index   -0.8% Shanghai Composite   -0.2% The pullback comes after a  10-day global rally  that pushed equities to record highs, leaving markets vulnerable to  short-term profit-taking . Oil Prices Ease as Ceasefire Hopes Persist Crude prices declined as optimism over diplomacy improved: Brent crude  fell  1.1% to ~US$98 per barrel WTI crude  dropped  1.6% to ~US$93 per barrel The easing reflects expectations that a  ceasefire could reopen the Strait of Hormuz , restoring oil flows and reducing inflation pressures. Markets ...

US President  Donald Trump  is attempting to  reset the economic narrative  ahead of midterm elections, as surging fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict weigh on both the economy and Republican electoral prospects. Inflation Pressures Undermine Policy Messaging Rising costs across  fuel, food, housing, and insurance  have intensified concerns about  affordability , overshadowing the administration’s policy efforts. Despite promoting tax relief measures, including  tax exemptions on tips and overtime income,  analysts note that  cost-of-living pressures remain the dominant issue for voters . High gasoline prices, linked to disruptions in the  Strait of Hormuz , continue to feed into broader inflation, impacting household spending power. Limited Tools to Contain Energy Costs The administration has taken several steps to ease energy prices: Releasing oil from strategic reserves Adjusting shipping regulations Easing sanctions o...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia rebounded from early losses to close higher on Thursday supported by a more stable global backdrop amid rising hopes of an easing in United States-Iran tensions following renewed talks. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 6.29 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 1,689.71 from Wednesday’s close of 1,683.42. The benchmark index opened 1.44 points higher at 1,684.86 and moved between 1,682.81 and 1,690.83 throughout the day.   In the broader market, gainers outpaced losers 753 to 486, while 531 counters were unchanged, 961 untraded and 23 suspended. Turnover increased to 3.77 billion units worth RM3.46 billion from Wednesday’s 3.33 billion units worth RM3.02 billion.

Singapore’s property market continues to be driven by  strong residential investment demand , with the sector maintaining its dominance despite a slight quarterly dip. Residential Sector Remains Market Leader The residential segment recorded  S$4.42 billion in investment sales in Q1 2026 , accounting for a significant  38.5% of total investment activity . Although this represents a marginal  0.3% decline quarter-on-quarter , the sector remains the  largest contributor to Singapore’s investment market , highlighting sustained developer and investor confidence. Government Land Sales Drive Activity A key driver of investment volume was  Government Land Sales (GLS)  and public sector awards. Five sites awarded  (4 private residential + 1 EC) Total value:  S$3.23 billion Notable transactions include: Dover Drive  – S$951 million Tanjong Rhu Road  – S$709.3 million Lentor Central  – S$657.1 million The Lentor Central site set a ...

Japan’s stock market is on the verge of a historic milestone, with the  Nikkei 225  poised for a  record closing high , driven by improving global sentiment and optimism over  US-Iran peace talks . Nikkei Erases War Losses, Eyes 60,000 Milestone The Nikkei surged  2.4% to 59,549 , surpassing its previous record close of  58,850  set in February. Now within  1% of the 60,000 level , a key psychological milestone The broader  Topix  rose  1.3% The rally effectively  wipes out losses triggered by the Iran conflict , highlighting the speed of the market recovery. Export and Tech Stocks Lead Gains The advance was led by  export-oriented sectors , including: Automotive Electronics Information technology These sectors are benefiting from: A  weaker yen , boosting export competitiveness Continued  AI-driven demand  for semiconductor-related companies Meanwhile,  real estate and consumer stocks lagged , reflecti...

The  US dollar’s global dominance remains firmly entrenched , with any meaningful challenge likely  decades away , according to  Franklin Resources Inc . Structural Strength Still Supports the Dollar Sonal Desai, Chief Investment Officer at Franklin Templeton, highlighted three core pillars underpinning the dollar’s status: Scale of the US economy Depth and liquidity of financial markets Strong institutional credibility These factors continue to make the dollar the  primary global reserve currency , with no immediate rival capable of matching its ecosystem. No Credible Alternatives in Sight Despite growing debate around de-dollarisation, key alternatives face structural limitations: The  euro lacks a unified safe asset at scale China’s  Renminbi  remains constrained by  capital controls and limited convertibility Other assets like  gold and cryptocurrencies  lack the  institutional framework and liquidity depth  required As a r...

Taiwan’s equity market has surged past the UK in total value, driven by a powerful  AI-led rally  that continues to attract global capital despite ongoing geopolitical risks. Taiwan Market Cap Hits US$4 Trillion Milestone Taiwan’s stock market capitalization climbed to  US$4.14 trillion , overtaking the UK’s  US$4.09 trillion , making it the  world’s seventh-largest equity market . The rally has been supported by strong gains in the  Taiex Index , which has: Recovered all losses from the Iran conflict Reached  record highs Posted a  16% gain in April alone This marks one of the fastest rebounds among global markets. TSMC Leads AI-Driven Surge The rally has been anchored by  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co , which recently hit  all-time highs  on the back of: Strong  revenue growth Dominance in the  global AI semiconductor supply chain Taiwan is increasingly viewed as a  pure-play proxy for AI hardware demand , w...

Malaysia’s market opened with mixed signals as  strong global sentiment contrasts with local profit-taking , while the  IMF upgraded the country’s 2026 GDP outlook , reinforcing medium-term optimism. Wall Street Gains on Easing Geopolitical Risks US markets closed mostly higher as optimism grew that the  US-Iran conflict may be nearing an end : S&P 500   +0.8% Nasdaq Composite   +1.59% Dow Jones Industrial Average   -0.15% Technology stocks led gains, driven by continued  AI enthusiasm and corporate developments : Tesla   +7.6%  on AI chip progress Oracle   +4.2%  on energy deal Lower geopolitical risks are expected to  ease oil prices and inflation pressures , supporting equities. KLCI Slips on Profit-Taking in Heavyweights The  FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI  edged  0.28% lower to 1,683.42 , as gains were capped by  profit-taking in financial and utility stocks . Top gainer:  Axiata Group   +3.72% ...

Asian equities extended gains on Thursday as optimism over a potential  extension of the US-Iran ceasefire  drove investors back into risk assets, while easing oil prices helped reduce inflation concerns.  Equities Rebound Toward Pre-War Levels The  MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  rose  1% , approaching levels seen before the Middle East conflict began. Regional markets, including  Singapore, Taiwan, and China , have largely  recovered war-driven losses China’s  CSI 300 Index  held gains after stronger-than-expected economic growth The rally reflects a  broad shift back into equities , supported by improving geopolitical sentiment and strong corporate earnings. Oil Stabilises Below US$100, Easing Inflation Pressure Brent crude held around  US$95 per barrel , well below last month’s peak near US$120. Lower oil prices are helping to: Reduce inflation expectations Support  bond markets , with US Treasury yields easing slightly Impro...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia erased early gains to end slightly lower on Wednesday, as profit-taking emerged in selected heavyweight counters mainly in financial services and utilities sectors. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 4.70 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,683.42 from Tuesday’s close of 1,688.12. The benchmark index opened 3.30 points higher at 1,691.42 and moved between 1,680.46 and 1,695.68 throughout the day.   However, in the broader market, gainers outpaced losers 615 to 455, while 566 counters were unchanged, 1,057 untraded and 13 suspended. Turnover increased to 3.33 billion units worth RM3.02 billion from Tuesday’s 2.85 billion units worth RM2.67 billion.

Singapore equities saw  selective strength on April 15 , with gains led by industrial and telecom names, while  REITs and banks dominated trading activity , reflecting a balanced but cautious market tone. STI Movers: Industrials and Telcos Outperform The  FTSE Straits Times Index  saw mixed performance across constituents. Top gainers included: Sembcorp Industries +3.05%  (top gainer) Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust   +1.46% Singtel   +1.44% Jardine Matheson +1.30% The strength highlights  investor preference for defensive and yield-linked sectors . On the downside: Keppel   -1.40%  (top loser) Thai Beverage   -1.16% SATs   -0.84% REITs Show Mixed but Active Trading In the REIT sector: Landmark REIT surged  +16.67% , leading gainers Acrophyte Hospitality Trust +2.04% Elite UK REIT -3.28%  (top loser) The wide dispersion suggests  stock-specific catalysts rather than sector-wide trends . Trading Activity Conce...

Malaysia equities ended mixed on April 15, with the benchmark index slipping slightly while  mid-cap and small-cap stocks outperformed , reflecting selective buying amid cautious sentiment. KLCI Edges Lower, Broader Market Shows Strength The  FBM KLCI  closed  0.28% lower at 1,683.42 , dragged by weakness in selected heavyweights. However, broader indices were more resilient: FBM 70 : +0.73% FBM Small Cap : +0.72% FBM Emas Index : +0.02% This divergence suggests  investors are rotating into mid- and small-cap opportunities . Telco and Infrastructure Stocks Lead Gains Among KLCI constituents, gains were led by: Axiata Group +3.72%  (top gainer) Sunway +1.53% Gamuda   +1.47% Telekom Malaysia   +1.44% Maxis +1.41% The performance points to  continued interest in telco and infrastructure-linked plays , which are seen as relatively defensive. Energy and Utilities Weigh on Index On the downside: Petronas Chemicals   -4.58%  (top loser) MI...