- Arun Goswami
- 02 Apr, 2025
- Mumbai
Punjab & Sind Bank fell 6.1% to ₹32.69 despite the financial service provider reporting a two-and-a-half-fold increase in earnings in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹3,269.4 crore from ₹2,852.7 crore, net income jumped to ₹282 crore from ₹114.3 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to 42 paise from 17 paise a year ago.
Nelco Ltd. declined 0.4% to ₹889.75 after the satellite communication services provider reported a 19% decline in profit in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue declined to ₹82.2 crore from ₹84.1 crore, after-tax profit decreased to ₹5 crore from ₹6.2 crore, and diluted earnings per share fell to ₹2.17 from ₹2.69 a year ago.
Oriental Hotels Limited edged higher 0.3% to ₹146.95 after the hotels and resorts services provider reported a slight increase in revenue and a 15% decline in profit in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹122.1 crore from ₹106.1 crore, net income fell to ₹14 crore from ₹16.4 crore, and diluted earnings per share declined to 78 paise from 92 paise a year ago.
CEAT Ltd. inched higher 1.2% to ₹2,908 despite the tire maker reporting a 46% plunge in quarterly profit from a year ago.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹3,303.3 crore from ₹2,966.1 crore, after-tax profit decreased to ₹97 crore from ₹181 crore, and diluted earnings per share dropped to ₹24.01 from ₹44.87 a year ago.
Mahindra EPC Irrigation Limited decreased 2% to ₹117.55 despite the micro-irrigation and water management service provider reporting a four-fold increase in earnings in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹81 crore from ₹80.34 crore, net income jumped to ₹6.4 crore from ₹1.7 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹2.27 from 60 paise a year ago.
Authum Investment & Infrastructure Limited dropped 5% to ₹267.25 after the non-banking finance company reported a slight increase in revenue and a 10% decline in profit in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹618.6 crore from ₹491.4 crore, after-tax profit decreased to ₹545.2 crore from ₹603.3 crore, and diluted earnings per share fell to ₹32.10 from ₹35.52 a year ago.
Bank of Maharashtra declined 1% to ₹45.79 despite the financial service provider reporting a 31% rise in its earnings in the latest quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹7,112.7 crore from ₹5,851.5 crore, net income jumped to ₹1,406.7 crore from ₹1,069.7 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹1.84 from ₹1.47 a year ago.
Mastek Ltd. fell 0.5% to ₹2,110.95 despite the tech services company reporting a 23% increase in net income in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue increased to ₹879 crore from ₹787.6 crore, after-tax profit advanced to ₹94.7 crore from ₹77.7 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹30.35 from ₹24.29 a year ago.
The company's board declared an interim dividend of ₹7 per share.
- Arun Goswami
- 02 Apr, 2025
- Mumbai
Punjab & Sind Bank fell 6.1% to ₹32.69 despite the financial service provider reporting a two-and-a-half-fold increase in earnings in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹3,269.4 crore from ₹2,852.7 crore, net income jumped to ₹282 crore from ₹114.3 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to 42 paise from 17 paise a year ago.
Nelco Ltd. declined 0.4% to ₹889.75 after the satellite communication services provider reported a 19% decline in profit in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue declined to ₹82.2 crore from ₹84.1 crore, after-tax profit decreased to ₹5 crore from ₹6.2 crore, and diluted earnings per share fell to ₹2.17 from ₹2.69 a year ago.
Oriental Hotels Limited edged higher 0.3% to ₹146.95 after the hotels and resorts services provider reported a slight increase in revenue and a 15% decline in profit in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹122.1 crore from ₹106.1 crore, net income fell to ₹14 crore from ₹16.4 crore, and diluted earnings per share declined to 78 paise from 92 paise a year ago.
CEAT Ltd. inched higher 1.2% to ₹2,908 despite the tire maker reporting a 46% plunge in quarterly profit from a year ago.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹3,303.3 crore from ₹2,966.1 crore, after-tax profit decreased to ₹97 crore from ₹181 crore, and diluted earnings per share dropped to ₹24.01 from ₹44.87 a year ago.
Mahindra EPC Irrigation Limited decreased 2% to ₹117.55 despite the micro-irrigation and water management service provider reporting a four-fold increase in earnings in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹81 crore from ₹80.34 crore, net income jumped to ₹6.4 crore from ₹1.7 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹2.27 from 60 paise a year ago.
Authum Investment & Infrastructure Limited dropped 5% to ₹267.25 after the non-banking finance company reported a slight increase in revenue and a 10% decline in profit in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹618.6 crore from ₹491.4 crore, after-tax profit decreased to ₹545.2 crore from ₹603.3 crore, and diluted earnings per share fell to ₹32.10 from ₹35.52 a year ago.
Bank of Maharashtra declined 1% to ₹45.79 despite the financial service provider reporting a 31% rise in its earnings in the latest quarter.
Consolidated revenue advanced to ₹7,112.7 crore from ₹5,851.5 crore, net income jumped to ₹1,406.7 crore from ₹1,069.7 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹1.84 from ₹1.47 a year ago.
Mastek Ltd. fell 0.5% to ₹2,110.95 despite the tech services company reporting a 23% increase in net income in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue increased to ₹879 crore from ₹787.6 crore, after-tax profit advanced to ₹94.7 crore from ₹77.7 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹30.35 from ₹24.29 a year ago.
The company's board declared an interim dividend of ₹7 per share.
- Barry Adams
- 01 Apr, 2025
- New York City
Wall Street indexes remained under pressure on the first day of trading of the new quarter as investors awaited clarity on U.S. trade policy.
The S&P 500 index decreased 0.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4%, following a day of wild swings in Monday's trading on Wall Street.
Market sentiment has been cautious amid the Trump administration's chaotic introduction of an import tax and confusion surrounding Donald Trump's constant flip-flops and wild threats to key trading partners.
Economic growth in the first quarter is likely to slow down sharply to close to zero after the Trump administration pursued a policy of an import tax covering nearly $3.3 trillion of imports.
The dramatic expansion and the use of tariffs are causing worldwide reactions, and the import tax is expected to fuel inflation and slow down economic growth.
Moreover, businesses are freezing or delaying investment plans amid tariff confusion, which is raising risks of recession in the third quarter and after.
The Trump administration is scheduled to announce the scope and details of the import tax and implementation plan starting April 2.
The Trump administration is looking to raise as much as $600 billion in annual revenue from new import taxes, sharply higher than the current $77 billion in annual revenue.
Commodities, Currencies, Indexes, Yields
The S&P 500 index decreased 0.1% to 5,607.06, the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.1% to 17,324.18, and the Russell 2000 index was down 0.6% to 2,000.08.
The yield on 2-year Treasury notes edged lower to 3.88%, 10-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.18%, and 30-year Treasury bonds declined to 4.53%.
WTI crude oil increased $0.16 to $71.64 a barrel, and natural gas prices edged lower by $0.08 to $4.04 a thermal unit.
Gold increased by $13.04 to 3,133.81 an ounce, and silver edged down by $0.11 to $33.94.
The dollar index, which weighs the US currency against a basket of foreign currencies, increased by 0.14 to 104.35 and traded at a two-year high.
U.S. Movers
PVH Corp. surged 16.2% to $75.12 after the parent company of the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands reported results for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Revenue declined to $2.37 billion from $2.49 billion, net income edged down to $157.2 million from $271.8 million, and diluted earnings per share fell to $2.83 from $4.55 a year ago.
The company announced $500 million in share repurchases in 2025 after completing approximately $500 million in stock repurchases during 2024.
Johnson & Johnson dropped 4% to $159.14 after the U.S. bankruptcy judge disapproved the company's $10 billion settlement proposal.
The proposed settlement covered thousands of lawsuits covering its baby powder and other talc products that caused ovarian cancer.
Progress Software Corp. jumped 7.5% to $55.35 after the business application software company's quarterly results surpassed market expectations.
The company's guidance for adjusted earnings for the full year also exceeded market expectations.
- Barry Adams
- 01 Apr, 2025
- New York City
Wall Street indexes remained under pressure on the first day of trading of the new quarter as investors awaited clarity on U.S. trade policy.
The S&P 500 index decreased 0.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4%, following a day of wild swings in Monday's trading on Wall Street.
Market sentiment has been cautious amid the Trump administration's chaotic introduction of an import tax and confusion surrounding Donald Trump's constant flip-flops and wild threats to key trading partners.
Economic growth in the first quarter is likely to slow down sharply to close to zero after the Trump administration pursued a policy of an import tax covering nearly $3.3 trillion of imports.
The dramatic expansion and the use of tariffs are causing worldwide reactions, and the import tax is expected to fuel inflation and slow down economic growth.
Moreover, businesses are freezing or delaying investment plans amid tariff confusion, which is raising risks of recession in the third quarter and after.
The Trump administration is scheduled to announce the scope and details of the import tax and implementation plan starting April 2.
The Trump administration is looking to raise as much as $600 billion in annual revenue from new import taxes, sharply higher than the current $77 billion in annual revenue.
U.S. Movers
PVH Corp. surged 16.2% to $75.12 after the parent company of the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands reported results for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Revenue declined to $2.37 billion from $2.49 billion, net income edged down to $157.2 million from $271.8 million, and diluted earnings per share fell to $2.83 from $4.55 a year ago.
The company announced $500 million in share repurchases in 2025 after completing approximately $500 million in stock repurchases during 2024.
Johnson & Johnson dropped 4% to $159.14 after the U.S. bankruptcy judge disapproved the company's $10 billion settlement proposal.
The proposed settlement covered thousands of lawsuits covering its baby powder and other talc products that caused ovarian cancer.
Progress Software Corp. jumped 7.5% to $55.35 after the business application software company's quarterly results surpassed market expectations.
The company's guidance for adjusted earnings for the full year also exceeded market expectations.
- Bridgette Randall
- 01 Apr, 2025
- London
European markets advanced for the second day in a row, but investors remained cautious amid the looming U.S. import tax and the widening global trade war.
Benchmark indexes in Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, and London advanced between 0.5% and 1%, as investors reassess global trade and economic growth outlook amid rising trade tensions with the U.S.
Consumer price inflation in the eurozone slowed for the second consecutive month, driven by the easing of services inflation.
The annual rate of inflation eased to 2.2% from 2.3% in the previous month, and service inflation slowed to 3.4% from 3.7%, and energy inflation fell to -0.7% from 2.2% in the previous month, respectively.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, eased to 2.4% from 2.6% in the previous month.
Europe Indexes and Yields
The DAX index increased by 0.8% to 22,342.74, the CAC-40 index edged higher 0.5% to 7,828.90, and the FTSE 100 index advanced by 0.6% to 8,631.81.
In the first quarter, the DAX index soared 12%, the CAC-40 index advanced 6.2%, and the FTSE 100 index increased 4.2%.
The yield on 10-year German bonds inched lower to 2.70%, French bonds decreased to 3.41%, the UK gilts moved down to 4.63%, and Italian bonds edged lower to 3.82%.
The euro decreased to $1.08; the British pound was lower at $1.29; and the U.S. dollar was lower and traded at 88.32 Swiss cents.
Brent crude decreased $0.006 to $74.76 a barrel, and the Dutch TTF natural gas was higher by €0.21 to €40.69 per MWh.
Europe Movers
Travis Perkins plc dropped 6% to 517.0 pence, and the building products company swung to a pre-tax loss and cut the dividend.
Greencore Group plc rose 5.6% to 178.60 pence, and the producer of convenience food upgraded its full-year profit estimate because of the continued sales momentum in the second quarter.
Skanska AB increased 1.5% to 224.20 krona after the Swedish construction company won a contract worth 4.5 billion krona to renovate Raritan Bridge in New Jersey, U.S.A.
Ipsos SA advanced 1% to €42.10, and the market research and consulting company entered into exclusive talks to acquire The BVA Family.
Nordex SE gained 1.6% to €14.46, and the German wind turbine company won two orders from Swedish renewable energy company OX2 AB to supply 70 turbines in Finland.
- Bridgette Randall
- 01 Apr, 2025
- London
European markets advanced for the second day in a row, but investors remained cautious amid the looming U.S. import tax and the widening global trade war.
Benchmark indexes in Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, and London advanced between 0.5% and 1%, as investors reassess global trade and economic growth outlook amid rising trade tensions with the U.S.
Consumer price inflation in the eurozone slowed for the second consecutive month, driven by the easing of services inflation.
The annual rate of inflation eased to 2.2% from 2.3% in the previous month, and service inflation slowed to 3.4% from 3.7%, and energy inflation fell to -0.7% from 2.2% in the previous month, respectively.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, eased to 2.4% from 2.6% in the previous month.
Europe Indexes and Yields
The DAX index increased by 0.8% to 22,342.74, the CAC-40 index edged higher 0.5% to 7,828.90, and the FTSE 100 index advanced by 0.6% to 8,631.81.
In the first quarter, the DAX index soared 12%, the CAC-40 index advanced 6.2%, and the FTSE 100 index increased 4.2%.
The yield on 10-year German bonds inched lower to 2.70%, French bonds decreased to 3.41%, the UK gilts moved down to 4.63%, and Italian bonds edged lower to 3.82%.
The euro decreased to $1.08; the British pound was lower at $1.29; and the U.S. dollar was lower and traded at 88.32 Swiss cents.
Brent crude decreased $0.006 to $74.76 a barrel, and the Dutch TTF natural gas was higher by €0.21 to €40.69 per MWh.
Europe Movers
Travis Perkins plc dropped 6% to 517.0 pence, and the building products company swung to a pre-tax loss and cut the dividend.
Greencore Group plc rose 5.6% to 178.60 pence, and the producer of convenience food upgraded its full-year profit estimate because of the continued sales momentum in the second quarter.
Skanska AB increased 1.5% to 224.20 krona after the Swedish construction company won a contract worth 4.5 billion krona to renovate Raritan Bridge in New Jersey, U.S.A.
Ipsos SA advanced 1% to €42.10, and the market research and consulting company entered into exclusive talks to acquire The BVA Family.
Nordex SE gained 1.6% to €14.46, and the German wind turbine company won two orders from Swedish renewable energy company OX2 AB to supply 70 turbines in Finland.
- Scott Peters
- 01 Apr, 2025
- New York City
PVH Corp. surged 16.2% to $75.12 after the parent company of the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands reported results for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Revenue declined to $2.37 billion from $2.49 billion, net income edged down to $157.2 million from $271.8 million, and diluted earnings per share fell to $2.83 from $4.55 a year ago.
The company announced $500 million in share repurchases in 2025 after completing approximately $500 million in stock repurchases during 2024.
The accelerated share repurchase agreements will be included under the company’s current $5 billion authorization approved by the Board of Directors, of which $1.8 billion remained available for share repurchases as of February 2.
For the full year 2025, PVH guided revenue to be flat or increase slightly from $8.65 billion in 2024, and non-GAAP earnings per share between $12.40 and $12.75, compared to $11.74 in 2024.
The company estimated for the first quarter of 2025 revenue to be flat or decrease 2% compared to $1.95 billion a year ago, and non-GAAP earnings per share between $2.10 and $2.25, compared to $2.45 in the same quarter a year earlier.
Steelcase Inc. dropped 0.8% to $11.01 after the furniture design company reported increased revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 ending in February.
Revenue jumped to $788.0 million from $775.2 million, net income climbed to $27.6 million from $21.3 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to 23 cents from 18 cents a year ago.
The company guided for the first quarter of 2026 revenue to be between $760 million and $785 million, compared to $727.3 million a year ago, and earnings per share between 10 cents and 14 cents, compared to 9 cents a year earlier.
Steelcase proposed a dividend of 10 cents per share in the quarter and 40 cents per share for the full year, unchanged from a year ago.
The dividend is payable on or before April 21 to shareholders on record as of April 7.
During fiscal 2025, the company repurchased 2.1 million shares for $26.5 million, and a total of $79.9 million remained under the company's share repurchase authorization at the end of the fourth quarter.
Revenue for the full year 2025 increased to $3.17 billion from $3.16 billion, net income edged up to $120.7 million from $81.1 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $1.02 from 68 cents a year ago.
At the end of the fourth quarter, the company’s backlog was approximately $694 million, which was 11% higher than the prior year.
For fiscal 2026, Steelcase estimated “mid-single-digit” organic revenue growth and order growth rate and modest improvement in the adjusted operating income margin compared to fiscal 2025.
“The company will benefit from continued growth from large corporate customers, the strong beginning backlog of customer orders, and benefits from pricing actions that will offset the impacts of higher tariffs and related inflationary cost increases,” the company said in a release to investors.
- Scott Peters
- 01 Apr, 2025
- New York City
PVH Corp. surged 16.2% to $75.12 after the parent company of the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands reported results for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Revenue declined to $2.37 billion from $2.49 billion, net income edged down to $157.2 million from $271.8 million, and diluted earnings per share fell to $2.83 from $4.55 a year ago.
The company announced $500 million in share repurchases in 2025 after completing approximately $500 million in stock repurchases during 2024.
The accelerated share repurchase agreements will be included under the company’s current $5 billion authorization approved by the Board of Directors, of which $1.8 billion remained available for share repurchases as of February 2.
For the full year 2025, PVH guided revenue to be flat or increase slightly from $8.65 billion in 2024, and non-GAAP earnings per share between $12.40 and $12.75, compared to $11.74 in 2024.
The company estimated for the first quarter of 2025 revenue to be flat or decrease 2% compared to $1.95 billion a year ago, and non-GAAP earnings per share between $2.10 and $2.25, compared to $2.45 in the same quarter a year earlier.
Steelcase Inc. dropped 0.8% to $11.01 after the furniture design company reported increased revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 ending in February.
Revenue jumped to $788.0 million from $775.2 million, net income climbed to $27.6 million from $21.3 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to 23 cents from 18 cents a year ago.
The company guided for the first quarter of 2026 revenue to be between $760 million and $785 million, compared to $727.3 million a year ago, and earnings per share between 10 cents and 14 cents, compared to 9 cents a year earlier.
Steelcase proposed a dividend of 10 cents per share in the quarter and 40 cents per share for the full year, unchanged from a year ago.
The dividend is payable on or before April 21 to shareholders on record as of April 7.
During fiscal 2025, the company repurchased 2.1 million shares for $26.5 million, and a total of $79.9 million remained under the company's share repurchase authorization at the end of the fourth quarter.
Revenue for the full year 2025 increased to $3.17 billion from $3.16 billion, net income edged up to $120.7 million from $81.1 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $1.02 from 68 cents a year ago.
At the end of the fourth quarter, the company’s backlog was approximately $694 million, which was 11% higher than the prior year.
For fiscal 2026, Steelcase estimated “mid-single-digit” organic revenue growth and order growth rate and modest improvement in the adjusted operating income margin compared to fiscal 2025.
“The company will benefit from continued growth from large corporate customers, the strong beginning backlog of customer orders, and benefits from pricing actions that will offset the impacts of higher tariffs and related inflationary cost increases,” the company said in a release to investors.
- Inga Muller
- 01 Apr, 2025
- Frankfurt
Drägerwerk AG traded flat at €51.80 after the provider of protection equipment, gas detection, and analysis systems reported lower sales in 2024.
Net sales dropped to €3.370 billion from €3.373 billion, net profit increased to €124.41 million from €110.43 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to €6.61 from €5.86 a year ago.
The company proposed a dividend of €2.03 per preferred share, compared to €1.80 in 2023, and €1.97 per common share, up from €1.74 a year ago, corresponding to 30.1% of the company’s net profit.
“Dräger intends to continue distributing at least 30% of group net profit in the coming years, provided that the group's equity ratio is at least 40%,” the company said in a release to investors.
Pets At Home Group Plc. plunged 8.5% to 216.40 pence after the UK-based pet products retailer estimated lower earnings in the fiscal 2026.
The underlying profit before tax for fiscal 2025 is expected to be £133 million, in line with previous guidance.
“We expect to finish fiscal 2025 in a net cash position, after having returned £85 million to investors during the year,” the company said in a release to investors.
“Fiscal year 2026 will see capex return to normalized levels of less than £50 million, and we do not expect any non-underlying costs,” the company added in the statement.
Taking into account the demand and costs ratio, Pets At Home estimated group underlying profit before tax to be down from a year ago, to range between £115 million and £125 million in fiscal 2026, compared to £133 million in the previous year.
The retailer estimated an £18 million impact from the increases in the National Living Wage and National Insurance employer contributions, a £2 million increase from new packaging regulations.
In addition, the company estimated a £10 million impact from rebuilding variable pay and £3 million in additional marketing expenses to increase sales.
Meanwhile, the company said operating expenses in fiscal 2026 are not expected to rise more than 5% because of the management initiatives to reduce costs and productivity enhancement measures.
- Inga Muller
- 01 Apr, 2025
- Frankfurt
Drägerwerk AG traded flat at €51.80 after the provider of protection equipment, gas detection, and analysis systems reported lower sales in 2024.
Net sales dropped to €3.370 billion from €3.373 billion, net profit increased to €124.41 million from €110.43 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to €6.61 from €5.86 a year ago.
The company proposed a dividend of €2.03 per preferred share, compared to €1.80 in 2023, and €1.97 per common share, up from €1.74 a year ago, corresponding to 30.1% of the company’s net profit.
“Dräger intends to continue distributing at least 30% of group net profit in the coming years, provided that the group's equity ratio is at least 40%,” the company said in a release to investors.
Pets At Home Group Plc. plunged 8.5% to 216.40 pence after the UK-based pet products retailer estimated lower earnings in the fiscal 2026.
The underlying profit before tax for fiscal 2025 is expected to be £133 million, in line with previous guidance.
“We expect to finish fiscal 2025 in a net cash position, after having returned £85 million to investors during the year,” the company said in a release to investors.
“Fiscal year 2026 will see capex return to normalized levels of less than £50 million, and we do not expect any non-underlying costs,” the company added in the statement.
Taking into account the demand and costs ratio, Pets At Home estimated group underlying profit before tax to be down from a year ago, to range between £115 million and £125 million in fiscal 2026, compared to £133 million in the previous year.
The retailer estimated an £18 million impact from the increases in the National Living Wage and National Insurance employer contributions, a £2 million increase from new packaging regulations.
In addition, the company estimated a £10 million impact from rebuilding variable pay and £3 million in additional marketing expenses to increase sales.
Meanwhile, the company said operating expenses in fiscal 2026 are not expected to rise more than 5% because of the management initiatives to reduce costs and productivity enhancement measures.
- Akira Ito
- 01 Apr, 2025
- Tokyo
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo lacked direction in Tuesday's trading, and investors reviewed the latest update on the job market and business sentiment.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed nearly unchanged, and the broader TOPIX edged higher after the jobless rate declined to 2.4% in February from 2.5% in the previous month.
The relatively tight labor market conditions supported the case for the Bank of Japan to raise rates at the next meeting.
The number of employed persons increased by 400,000 from a year ago to 67.7 million, extending labor market expansion to the 31st consecutive month.
In addition, the jobless rate eased to 1.65%, and the total number of unemployed decreased by 120,000 to 1.74 million, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported Tuesday.
Among those not employed, voluntary separations declined by 1.3% to 760,000, but those seeking jobs soared 11.6% to 480,000.
Investors also reviewed the decline in the business sentiment index in the first quarter among the large businesses released by the Bank of Japan.
The Bank of Japan Tankan index of sentiment among large manufacturers fell to 12 in the first quarter from 14 in the previous quarter and dropped to the lowest level in a year.
The U.S. trade policy uncertainty dampened the sentiment index, and the 25% import tax on Japanese vehicles also negatively impacted the mood among business executives.
Japan Indexes and Socks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 0.01% to 35,624.48, and the broader TOPIX index added 0.1% to 2,661.73.
Toyota Motor Corp advanced 0.8% to ¥2,630.50, Honda Motor gained 0.2% to ¥1,345.0, and Nissan Motor decreased 1.2% to ¥374.30.
Tokyo Electron added 0.7% to ¥20,250.0, Disco Corp. jumped 0.8% to ¥30,120.0, and Advantest Corp. dropped 2.9% to ¥6,283.0.
Marubeni Corp. jumped 0.7% to ¥2,396.0, Itochu Corp. added 1.4% to ¥6,995.0, Sumitomo Corp. gained 1.3% to ¥3,414.0, and Mitsui & Company inched higher by 0.9% to ¥2,825.0.
Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd. added 0.4% to ¥2,171.0, Takashimaya Co., Ltd. declined 0.8% to ¥1,200.0, Fast Retailing jumped 0.9% to ¥44,440.0, and Isetan Mitsukoshi fell 1.3% to ¥2,111.50.
- Akira Ito
- 01 Apr, 2025
- Tokyo
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo lacked direction in Tuesday's trading, and investors reviewed the latest update on the job market and business sentiment.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed nearly unchanged, and the broader TOPIX edged higher after the jobless rate declined to 2.4% in February from 2.5% in the previous month.
The relatively tight labor market conditions supported the case for the Bank of Japan to raise rates at the next meeting.
The number of employed persons increased by 400,000 from a year ago to 67.7 million, extending labor market expansion to the 31st consecutive month.
In addition, the jobless rate eased to 1.65%, and the total number of unemployed decreased by 120,000 to 1.74 million, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported Tuesday.
Among those not employed, voluntary separations declined by 1.3% to 760,000, but those seeking jobs soared 11.6% to 480,000.
Investors also reviewed the decline in the business sentiment index in the first quarter among the large businesses released by the Bank of Japan.
The Bank of Japan Tankan index of sentiment among large manufacturers fell to 12 in the first quarter from 14 in the previous quarter and dropped to the lowest level in a year.
The U.S. trade policy uncertainty dampened the sentiment index, and the 25% import tax on Japanese vehicles also negatively impacted the mood among business executives.
Japan Indexes and Socks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 0.01% to 35,624.48, and the broader TOPIX index added 0.1% to 2,661.73.
Toyota Motor Corp advanced 0.8% to ¥2,630.50, Honda Motor gained 0.2% to ¥1,345.0, and Nissan Motor decreased 1.2% to ¥374.30.
Tokyo Electron added 0.7% to ¥20,250.0, Disco Corp. jumped 0.8% to ¥30,120.0, and Advantest Corp. dropped 2.9% to ¥6,283.0.
Marubeni Corp. jumped 0.7% to ¥2,396.0, Itochu Corp. added 1.4% to ¥6,995.0, Sumitomo Corp. gained 1.3% to ¥3,414.0, and Mitsui & Company inched higher by 0.9% to ¥2,825.0.
Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd. added 0.4% to ¥2,171.0, Takashimaya Co., Ltd. declined 0.8% to ¥1,200.0, Fast Retailing jumped 0.9% to ¥44,440.0, and Isetan Mitsukoshi fell 1.3% to ¥2,111.50.
- Li Chen
- 01 Apr, 2025
- Hong Kong
Stocks in China and Hong Kong advanced following the release of a private survey of the manufacturing sector activities.
The Hang Seng index advanced 0.3%, and the mainland-focused CSI index decreased 0.1% as investors weighed the impact of the looming U.S. trade tariffs.
The Hang Seng index advanced 0.8% in March and extended gains in the first quarter to 17%, and the CSI 300 index was nearly unchanged in the month and 1.8%, respectively.
China's manufacturing sector activities expanded at the fastest pace in four months in March, according to a private survey released by Caixin and S&P Global.
The Purchasing Managers' Index increased to 51.2 in March, up from 50.8 in February, and the index reached a four-month high with output growth accelerating.
The private survey, which includes a larger group of smaller exporting companies, confirmed the reading from the official survey, which showed growth accelerated to a one-year high.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng index increased 0.3% to 23,206.12, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 index decreased 0.1% to 3,885.36.
China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. decreased 4.3% to HK $13.26, and the residential property developer reported annual results.
Tencent Holdings added 2% to HK $507.0, Alibaba Group Holding gained 1.7% to HK $130.20, JD.com advanced 0.7% to HK $161.90, and Meituan increased 1.9% to HK $158.70.
China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. dropped 4.5% to HK $13.28 after the Hong Kong-based real estate company reported results for 2024 ending in December.
Revenue declined to 185.15 billion yuan from 202.52 billion yuan, profit slumped to 15.63 billion yuan from 25.61 billion yuan, and diluted earnings per share fell to 1.43 yuan from 2.34 yuan a year ago.
The group’s revenue from commercial properties was 7.13 billion yuan, an increase of 12.1% as compared to the previous year.
The company proposed a final dividend of HK 30 cents per share, after the interim dividend of HK 30 cent per share.
- Li Chen
- 01 Apr, 2025
- Hong Kong
Stocks in China and Hong Kong advanced following the release of a private survey of the manufacturing sector activities.
The Hang Seng index advanced 0.3%, and the mainland-focused CSI index decreased 0.1% as investors weighed the impact of the looming U.S. trade tariffs.
The Hang Seng index advanced 0.8% in March and extended gains in the first quarter to 17%, and the CSI 300 index was nearly unchanged in the month and 1.8%, respectively.
China's manufacturing sector activities expanded at the fastest pace in four months in March, according to a private survey released by Caixin and S&P Global.
The Purchasing Managers' Index increased to 51.2 in March, up from 50.8 in February, and the index reached a four-month high with output growth accelerating.
The private survey, which includes a larger group of smaller exporting companies, confirmed the reading from the official survey, which showed growth accelerated to a one-year high.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng index increased 0.3% to 23,206.12, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 index decreased 0.1% to 3,885.36.
China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. decreased 4.3% to HK $13.26, and the residential property developer reported annual results.
Tencent Holdings added 2% to HK $507.0, Alibaba Group Holding gained 1.7% to HK $130.20, JD.com advanced 0.7% to HK $161.90, and Meituan increased 1.9% to HK $158.70.