MONEY MASTER

Japanese equities suffered their  worst selloff since April , as surging oil prices and intensifying Middle East tensions rattled investors already shaken by weak US jobs data. Key Takeaways Nikkei 225 fell as much as 6.9% — biggest drop since April Oil surged above  US$110 per barrel Japan highly vulnerable due to 90% oil import reliance Market now in  technical correction territory  (down over 10% from recent peak) Japanese Stocks Hit Hard Nikkei 225  plunged up to 6.9% TOPIX  fell as much as 5.7% Tech and electronics names led declines: SoftBank Group Corp Advantest Corp The selloff comes after oil surged past  US$110 , as major producers curb output and conflict around Iran enters its ninth day. Key Point: Oil above US$110 is triggering sharp risk-off moves in energy-import dependent markets like Japan. Why Japan Is Especially Exposed Japan imports roughly  90% of its oil from the Middle East , making it one of the most vulnerable economies to...

Summary Asian equities surged after  Japan’s stock market soared to a fresh all-time high , driven by political clarity and expectations of aggressive reflation policies, while a late rebound on Wall Street and renewed hopes of US rate cuts further boosted risk appetite. What’s Driving the Rally Markets across Asia rallied after a  decisive election win  by Japanese Prime Minister  Sanae Takaichi , which secured a strong parliamentary mandate and cleared the way for  more fiscal spending and tax cuts . Japan’s Nikkei jumped 4.2% to a record high MSCI Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) rose 1.0% South Korea’s tech-heavy index climbed 3.9% Investors interpreted the result as an endorsement of  reflationary “Sanaenomics” , including: Possible food consumption tax cuts  → supportive for domestic demand Higher defence spending  → positive for defence-related stocks Wall Street Relief Rally Adds Momentum Sentiment was also lifted by a sharp rebound in US equities ...

Japan’s Nikkei share average rose 0.58% on Wednesday to 39,172.30 , driven by tech stocks tracking gains in their US counterparts. Shares of Seven & i Holdings , the owner of 7-Eleven, surged following a report of a sweetened takeover bid from Circle K-owner Alimentation Couche-Tard . Seven & i jumped as much as 11.77% after a Bloomberg report indicated that the Canadian retailer was preparing to raise its offer to about US$47 billion (RM201.35 billion) . It last traded 4.1% higher . Meanwhile, Fast Retailing , the owner of Uniqlo, also supported the Nikkei, rising 0.76% due to its heavy influence on the index. Chip-sector stocks also contributed to the gains, with Nvidia supplier Advantest up 3.05% , and Tokyo Electron and SoftBank Group gaining 1.1% and 0.91%, respectively. In contrast, energy stocks underperformed , with Idemitsu Kosan and Inpex sliding 3.51% and 3.18% , respectively, amid a retreat in crude oil prices . The broader Topix index remained flat as g...

Japanese stocks experienced a rebound on Tuesday, supported by a weaker yen that boosted technology companies and automakers. The Nikkei 225 index rose as much as 1.9% , recovering from a nearly 5% slump the previous day following a leadership race within the ruling party. In contrast, Australian shares dipped, while markets in China and Hong Kong were closed for holidays. The yen's decline against the dollar was influenced by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell , who indicated that the central bank is not in a hurry to cut interest rates, stating they would be lowered “over time” while maintaining that the overall economy is in solid shape. Economic Indicators and Political Developments Despite recent political uncertainty, traders are optimistic about the new leadership under Shigeru Ishiba , who is expected to be confirmed as Japan’s new prime minister on Tuesday. His call for a national election to consolidate power has been generally well-received. Meanwhile, Japan's Tan...