The Reserve Bank of India’s recent defense of the rupee is weighing on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, prompting calls from some analysts to scale back future intervention. India’s forex assets, excluding gold, are now just enough to cover for 8.7 months of imports, the lowest in three years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The rupee weakness comes at a time when India is facing a...
The Reserve Bank of India’s recent defense of the rupee is weighing on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, prompting calls from some analysts to scale back future intervention. India’s forex assets, excluding gold, are now just enough to cover for 8.7 months of imports, the lowest in three years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The rupee weakness comes at a time when India is facing a rising import bill due to higher energy prices, with implications for both its economy and markets. The more the RBI intervenes, the lesser firepower it will be left with, which can lead to more problems if the ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues, said Indranil Pan , chief economist at Yes Bank Ltd. “On the external sector, the shock absorber has to be the exchange rate only. There is definitely a need for the RBI to be slightly more flexible in terms of allowing rupee depreciation.” In recent weeks, the RBI has stepped up intervention in the currency market to shield the rupee , which is hovering near its record low of 92.4788 per dollar hit Friday. Forex assets fell to $563 billion in the week of March 6, from a peak of $591 billion in June. Overall reserves , which have been supported by higher gold prices, declined by the most since November 2024. India needs a forex reserve buffer of at least $1 trillion to ensure robust intervention capacity, according to former RBI deputy governor Michael Patra . The RBI’s ammunition to support the rupee is lower after accounting for its outstanding dollar sales, with its forward book at $67.8 billion at the end of January. “Defending a particular level of the rupee could become very problematic very quickly, if the fundamentals have shifted for good,” said Dhiraj Nim , FX strategist at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group. “The RBI can let the rupee adjust a bit more before the level of reserves becomes a concern.”
China has been noticeably quiet about the conflict in the Middle East, even as it engulfs a major Chinese friend, Iran. The silence, though, is deliberate. Rebecca Choong Wilkins explains. (Source: Bloomberg)
China has been noticeably quiet about the conflict in the Middle East, even as it engulfs a major Chinese friend, Iran. The silence, though, is deliberate. Rebecca Choong Wilkins explains. (Source: Bloomberg)
primeimages/E+ via Getty Images Market Review Global equity markets finished the year on a strong note in the fourth quarter, supported by increasing optimism for easier monetary policy, lower-than-expected inflation trends, and generally resilient corporate earnings. At the same time, signs of a softening, but still expanding, global economy helped ease recession concerns and supported a broader ...
primeimages/E+ via Getty Images Market Review Global equity markets finished the year on a strong note in the fourth quarter, supported by increasing optimism for easier monetary policy, lower-than-expected inflation trends, and generally resilient corporate earnings. At the same time, signs of a softening, but still expanding, global economy helped ease recession concerns and supported a broader risk-on tone into year-end. Equity leadership broadened during the quarter. Cyclical sectors tied to financials and industrials benefited from improving liquidity, while growth stocks with strong balance sheets and visible earnings trajectories regained momentum—particularly in IT and select consumer and health care segments. Currency markets were relatively stable. The U.S. dollar’s 7.3% decline on a trade-weighted basis last year helped international equities. As volatility resurfaced around policy shifts and geopolitical developments, we selectively added to high-quality growth businesses at attractive valuations. U.S. fixed income markets concluded 2025 on a positive note, with broad gains driven by Federal Reserve rate cuts, cooling inflation, and broadly resilient economic data despite challenges like the U.S. government shutdown and labor market softness. The Federal Reserve continued its easing cycle with 50 basis points of rate cuts, including a widely expected 25bp cut at the December FOMC meeting that lowered the Fed Funds rate to 3.50-3.75% alongside a $40B/month Treasury bill purchase program, though the FOMC minutes reflected continued divisions within the committee. November saw significant volatility in rate expectations with December futures probabilities dropping below 30% at one point following hawkish signals from Chair Powell and other Fed officials. Inflation showed continued disinflation with November CPI coming in below consensus at 2.7% year-over-year (core 2.6%), while mortgage rates dropped for three straight weeks to end 2025 at their lowest poin...
AI Image Generated Under the Direction of Shannon Harms Key Points Insider buying is clustering in E.W. Scripps, First Financial Bankshares, and Crane, signaling confidence—but each setup has distinct risks. E.W. Scripps is the highest-risk turnaround of the group, while First Financial Bankshares is positioned as the steadier capital-return story. Crane combines insider buying with raised guidanc...
AI Image Generated Under the Direction of Shannon Harms Key Points Insider buying is clustering in E.W. Scripps, First Financial Bankshares, and Crane, signaling confidence—but each setup has distinct risks. E.W. Scripps is the highest-risk turnaround of the group, while First Financial Bankshares is positioned as the steadier capital-return story. Crane combines insider buying with raised guidance and a dividend increase, with analyst and institutional sentiment reinforcing the upside case. Insiders are buying stocks in 2026, but that doesn’t mean they are all good buys. The stocks on this list carry risks, but all have upside potential tied to operational quality and profit capacity. While headwinds remain, the opportunity is significant, as insiders have no other reason to buy. The only questions are how long it will take for the gains to develop and how high the stock prices may get. In all cases, catalysts are at hand, and the upside potential starts in the double-digit range. Insiders Bet Big on E.W. Scripps Rebound Potential Insiders are making significant moves in E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP) stock, suggesting they know something the market doesn’t, or at least isn’t paying attention to. InsiderTrades data shows execs, including the CEO, a director, and numerous family-related holders, stepped in to buy shares in March. This is significant not only for the volume of purchases but for the timing. Insiders haven’t sold or bought shares in years, and now, all of a sudden, they are. Among the drivers is the company’s lean into efficiency. The group is integrating AI to drive efficiency and growth. It is also working to reduce costs and expand its network, with a focus on sports and local broadcasting. However, expectations aren’t robust. Not only is there tepid analyst coverage, but it also forecasts contraction in fiscal 2027, and may be overestimating the business. Traditional TV faces challenges in 2026, and this company specifically is amid a high-risk turnaro...
Tencent ( TCEHY ): Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of RMB 6.966 beats by RMB 0.11 Net profit was RMB 58.26 billion, compared with an average estimate of RMB 57.75 billion. Revenue of RMB 194.4B (+12.7% Y/Y) beats by RMB 530M . Domestic gaming revenue rose 15% to RMB 38.2 billion, while international gaming revenue surged 32% to RMB21.1 billion. Online advertising revenue climbed 17% to RMB 41.1 billion, boosted b...
Tencent ( TCEHY ): Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of RMB 6.966 beats by RMB 0.11 Net profit was RMB 58.26 billion, compared with an average estimate of RMB 57.75 billion. Revenue of RMB 194.4B (+12.7% Y/Y) beats by RMB 530M . Domestic gaming revenue rose 15% to RMB 38.2 billion, while international gaming revenue surged 32% to RMB21.1 billion. Online advertising revenue climbed 17% to RMB 41.1 billion, boosted by AI-enhanced ad targeting. Revenue in its FinTech and Business Services segment, which includes cloud computing, rose 8% to RMB 60.8 billion. Capital expenditure was RMB19.6 billion, down 46% YoY. More on Tencent Tencent: China Emphasizing Domestic And International Services Growth Bodes Well Tencent: A Flagship Chinese Tech Giant Still Trading Below Intrinsic Value Tencent, Zhipu shares jump after launching OpenClaw-powered AI agents Tencent is said to be back on Paramount-Warner Bros. deal with fresh funding Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Tencent
Here are three stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today: Avanos Medical AVNS is a medical technology company which offers infection prevention, surgical, respiratory, digestive health and pain management solutions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 18.5% downward over the last 60 days. Cars.com CARS operates an online automotive platform ...
Here are three stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today: Avanos Medical AVNS is a medical technology company which offers infection prevention, surgical, respiratory, digestive health and pain management solutions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 18.5% downward over the last 60 days. Cars.com CARS operates an online automotive platform which offers new and used vehicle listings, expert and consumer reviews, research tools and other information. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised almost 12.9% downward over the last 60 days. Cable One CABO is a cable company which provides internet, cable television and telephone service primarily in the United States. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 12.3% downward over the last 60 days. View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2024. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Cable One, Inc. (CABO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cars.com Inc. (CARS) : Free Stock Analysis Report AVANOS MEDICAL, INC. (AVNS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
(RTTNews) - European stocks traded higher on Wednesday ahead of the release of Eurozone inflation data and the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision. Sentiment was underpinned as oil prices fell despite heightened geopolitical risks, with Iran's supreme national security council confirming the death of its chief, Ali Larijani. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.4 percent at 604.56 after r...
(RTTNews) - European stocks traded higher on Wednesday ahead of the release of Eurozone inflation data and the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision. Sentiment was underpinned as oil prices fell despite heightened geopolitical risks, with Iran's supreme national security council confirming the death of its chief, Ali Larijani. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.4 percent at 604.56 after rising 0.7 percent on Tuesday. The German DAX gained half a percent, France's CAC 40 surged 0.7 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.2 percent. British insurer Prudential fell 2.2 percent despite reporting a 12 percent rise in annual new business profit, lifting dividend and announcing a $1.3 billion capital return in 2027. Oil & gas explorer Ithaca Energy lost nearly 6 percent after its 2025 adjusted profit was hit by one-off costs. Diploma, the specialist distributor of industrial controls, seals and life sciences products, soared 17 percent after lifting its FY26 guidance. Lender Barclays gained 2 percent after it announced a new strategic partnership with Sage Group. French vaccine maker Valneva was moving lower after widening its FY25 net loss. Technip Energies rose 1.4 percent. The global technology & engineering powerhouse leading in energy and decarbonization infrastructure has launched a share buyback program for a maximum amount of 150 million euros. German electrolysis equipment maker Thyssenkrupp Nucera slumped 8 percent after slashing its full-year outlook. Meal kit company HelloFresh plummeted 7 percent after it reported weaker than expected fourth-quarter core earnings and forecast lower profit in 2026. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) hold up signed documents for a critical minerals/rare earth deal with Japan during a meeting at Akasaka Palace on October 28, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. Trump is on a visit to Asia that takes in the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, followed by a trip to Japan and South Korea ahead of the APEC meetings. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images ...
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) hold up signed documents for a critical minerals/rare earth deal with Japan during a meeting at Akasaka Palace on October 28, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. Trump is on a visit to Asia that takes in the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, followed by a trip to Japan and South Korea ahead of the APEC meetings. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images News | Getty Images As Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi travels to Washington for her first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump stateside, the Iran conflict will loom large over their meeting. The Japanese PM's meeting with Trump on Thursday will be her first after she led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to victory in February, its largest electoral win since World War II . Stephen Nagy, professor of politics and international studies at Tokyo's International Christian University (ICU) told CNBC over email that "Takaichi will do what all Japanese PMs do, reaffirm that the Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's security but also to the peace and stability of the free and open Indo-Pacific region." But the topic of Iran is likely to dominate the meeting, experts told CNBC. Iran conflict Before the conflict with Tehran started on Feb. 28, Takaichi's meeting was expected to focus on Japan's investment in the U.S., increasing defence spending, and to talk about the now-postponed summit between Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping. That's according to Jeffery Hornung, Japan Lead for the National Security Research Division at RAND, a U.S. based think-tank. The original plan was to come "bearing gifts", showing how Japan is a very forward leaning partner in defense and economically, Hornung said in a phone interview. "But the big uncertainty is, how much will the war in Iran dominate the President's thinking on that day?" "I do think that it would be hard not to talk about having Japan contribute in some capacity, given that it does depend on the Strait fo...