Latest news with #MSCIWorldIndex
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Strong demand, stable activity in economy
India's economic indicators are becoming more supportive of growth, according to the report released by Motilal Oswal Private Wealth (MOPW) on Friday. The report highlights that several positive trends are emerging on the domestic front, including higher GDP growth, easing inflation, and strong tax GDP grew by 7.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of FY25, which is the highest reading in the last four has remained below 4 per cent for four consecutive months, and GST collections have been rising steadily. These signs indicate strong demand and stable activity in the formal sector of the report also notes that India's policy environment is now moving in a unified direction. Fiscal, monetary, and regulatory policies are all aimed at maintaining growth increased tax exemption limits that came into effect from April 2025 are expected to improve disposable incomes and boost the same time, the government's capital expenditure continues to rise, supporting the investment the global front, the environment remains mixed. In April and May, markets faced worries over tariffs and geopolitical tensions. However, the situation improved with a delay in global tariff implementation and a ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan. This improved global sentiment has helped global equity markets, with the MSCI World Index reaching record highs. Meanwhile, rising bond yields in Japan and China's shift towards gold show that global investors are moving away from US could become a concern as the US faces refinancing of $9 trillion in debt this a weaker Dollar Index could help emerging markets like India by attracting more foreign investments. In the Indian stock market, valuations have increased as earnings have not grown at the same Nifty-50's one-year forward valuation has risen above its long-term average, and mid and small-cap stocks continue to trade at a premium. This makes careful stock selection and active management more important for investors looking to generate higher returns, the report stated.
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
India's Economy Showing Strong Signs Of Growth: Report
Mumbai: India's economic indicators are becoming more supportive of growth, according to the report released by Motilal Oswal Private Wealth (MOPW) on Friday. The report highlights that several positive trends are emerging on the domestic front, including higher GDP growth, easing inflation, and strong tax collections. India's GDP grew by 7.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of FY25, which is the highest reading in the last four quarters. Inflation has remained below 4 per cent for four consecutive months, and GST collections have been rising steadily. These signs indicate strong demand and stable activity in the formal sector of the economy. The report also notes that India's policy environment is now moving in a unified direction. Fiscal, monetary, and regulatory policies are all aimed at maintaining growth momentum. The increased tax exemption limits that came into effect from April 2025 are expected to improve disposable incomes and boost consumption. At the same time, the government's capital expenditure continues to rise, supporting the investment cycle. On the global front, the environment remains mixed. In April and May, markets faced worries over tariffs and geopolitical tensions. However, the situation improved with a delay in global tariff implementation and a ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan. This improved global sentiment has helped global equity markets, with the MSCI World Index reaching record highs. Meanwhile, rising bond yields in Japan and China's shift towards gold show that global investors are moving away from US Treasuries. This could become a concern as the US faces refinancing of $9 trillion in debt this year. However, a weaker Dollar Index could help emerging markets like India by attracting more foreign investments. In the Indian stock market, valuations have increased as earnings have not grown at the same pace. The Nifty-50's one-year forward valuation has risen above its long-term average, and mid and small-cap stocks continue to trade at a premium. This makes careful stock selection and active management more important for investors looking to generate higher returns, the report stated.
Gulf Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Oil And Gold Jump As Israel Targets Iranian Energy
Oil jumped in late Sunday trading with investors focused on escalating geopolitical tensions as Israel and Iran continue to bombard each other with no sign of a pause, amid some speculation the worst-case scenario – a blockade of the straits of Hormuz which could send oil as high as $130 – is increasingly likely (odds rising to 17% according to JPM). Brent crude rose as much as 5.5% to $77.50 – its Thursday night high – in early Asian trading after Israel and Iran continued attacks on one another's territories over the weekend. The price then promptly ease back as shorts who stand to suffer massive losses in case of a squeeze, doubled down by shorting even more in hopes the crises somehow de-escalates. That's a problem because unlike late last week, over the weekend Israel started attacking Iran's energy infrastructure, and on Saturday launched an attack on the giant South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf, forcing the shut down of a production platform, after air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and military leadership last equity-index futures pointed to declines in Hong Kong and Sydney, while contracts for US equities initially edged lower before stubborn retail dip buyers promptly emerged again. The dollar saw modest gains against major peers in early trading, while gold rose toward a record on Monday as the conflict drove investors toward haven assets. Last week's biggest market reaction to the conflict was oil, with crude prices surging more than 13% on Friday before paring some of those gains. The biggest concern for the market centers on the Strait of Hormuz and prices could soar further if Iran attempts to block the route. On Saturday, JPMorgan raised its odds of a Hormuz closure to 17%. 'Markets should be prepared for a prolonged period of uncertainty,' said Wolf von Rotberg, an equity strategist at Bank J. Safra Sarasin, quoted by Bloomberg. 'Hedging against potential oil supply-chain disruptions via exposure to the energy market and adding to gold, which may see an acceleration of its structural uptrend, are the best ways to protect a portfolio against a further escalation in the Middle East.' Some investors ended last week choosing to wait to gauge how long the tensions would last, mindful of similar standoffs between the two nations that eventually de-escalated. Still, the extension of the conflict and intensity of the current hostilities is likely to cast a shadow over risk assets on Monday. Already, the MSCI World Index of developed-market equities fell the most since April on Friday following Israel's initial air strikes on Iran. 'This is a significant escalation, to the point where these nations are at war,' said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading. 'The ramifications will be larger and last longer,' with weakness in equity markets likely, especially after recent gains, he said. While the drop in US stock futures was modest, most Middle East stock indexes suffered bigger losses on Sunday. Egypt's main gauge was the worst performer, seeing the biggest losses in more than a year on concern that a halt in Israeli gas production will cause fuel shortages. In Saudi Arabia, the Tadawul gauge's declines were limited by Aramco, which gained on higher oil prices. Israel's benchmark ended higher as military supplier Elbit Systems Ltd. rallied. Still, judging by the recent dip-buying euphoria, one can see why some are confident that this too will blow over quickly. 'Unless oil stays elevated and drives inflation higher, this is more likely a pause than a panic as other narratives are driving the market,' said Dave Mazza, chief executive officer, Roundhill Investments. 'It may present a buying opportunity, but with markets having rallied sharply off recent lows, gains from here will be harder to come by.' Traders are weighing the fresh geopolitical risks at a time when they are also grappling with destabilized global trade relationships, the prospect of new tariffs from Donald Trump, economic cross-currents, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and rising political tensions in the US amid protests. Also read: Israel Attack Targets Refinery At Iran's Giant South Pars Gas Field
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Israel, Iran Trade Blows for Third Day With No Sign of Letup
Israel and Iran continued intense bombardments on one another's territories for the third day, with no sign of a reprieve and growing concerns over a wider conflict in one of the world's key oil-producing regions. Israel on Sunday reported a new wave of missile attacks from Iran, just hours after intercepting an earlier barrage and carrying out simultaneous strikes on Tehran. The tit-for-tat followed reports of explosions across Iran, including one at a natural gas plant linked to the giant South Pars field. The enmity between the two countries once again turned into open conflict on Friday, when Israel preemptively struck Iran's nuclear and military sites. Assaults since then have shown Israel maintains dominance in the air and highlight the limits of Tehran's ability to mount a credible response. For Iran, that's an existential dilemma: it can't afford to appear weak, but its options are narrowing and proxy groups it backs have limited options to support the Islamic Republic, with Israel having diminished their ability to attack. On Sunday, Iran fired ballistic missiles in retaliation, with some targeting Israel's infrastructure and energy facilities around Haifa, according to state media. Israel advised residents to remain in bomb shelters for a brief period, while its forces tried to intercept the projectiles. Authorities said three people were killed in a missile strike in western Galilee, in the north of the country, bringing the death toll over the last two days to at least six. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military would 'strike at every site and every target of the Ayatollah regime,' while Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a day earlier that Israel won't be able to 'escape unscathed' after its attacks on the Islamic Republic. The ongoing barrages and intense conflict have sent shockwaves through financial markets, with oil surging 7% on Friday and investors rushing to buy haven assets such as gold and US Treasuries. The MSCI World Index of developed-country stocks dropped the most since April. Iran canceled its next round of nuclear talks with the US scheduled for Oman on Sunday. US President Donald Trump, who is seeking an accord that would curb Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, said on social media that 'this war in Israel-Iran should end.' Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the escalating crisis in a roughly hour-long phone call on Saturday. During the call, the Russian leader condemned Israel's military operation against Iran and voiced serious concern over a potential escalation that could have 'unpredictable consequences for the entire region,' Tass reported, citing Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Trump told Putin he doesn't rule out a return by the US to negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, Ushakov said. Iran's neighbors, wary that the conflict could spiral out of control and widen, stepped up diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging restraint. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a call with the Iranian leader that diplomacy was the only solution to the nuclear standoff. The United Nations' atomic watchdog said Israeli strikes on Iran's uranium-conversion facility an Isfahan resulted in serious damage. Disabling the facility would seriously crimp Iran's ability to enrich uranium in large volumes. Still, most of Iran's nuclear facilities are spread out across many locations, with some hidden deep under rock and reinforced concrete. Israel's ability to damage them, without help from US weapons and planes, is limited. Trump, who has warned Iran to agree on a nuclear deal 'before it is too late,' has not yet indicated if the US would join Israel in striking Iran. According to a report in Axios citing unnamed sources, Israeli officials have urged the Trump administration to join the fight against Tehran. Further escalation — particularly any targeting of American military or diplomatic facilities in the region — may help Iran's rulers rally political support domestically but would dramatically intensify the conflict. It's unclear if Tehran is entertaining last-resort options — such as attacking tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, through which Middle East producers ship about a fifth of the world's daily output. That type of action may draw the US, the world's most powerful military, into the conflict, a risk Tehran has calculated that it can't afford, according to Bloomberg Economics analysts. Several top Iranian generals were killed and key military infrastructure was badly damaged in Israel's opening strikes on Friday, which left almost 80 people dead, according to an official tally. On Saturday, four sites in the East Azerbaijan province were struck, as was Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport — where the air force has a base and the national carrier is headquartered, according to Iranian media. Israel also attacked defense ministry buildings, including its headquarters, several residential buildings in the capital's suburbs and an oil depot to the west of the city, according to those reports. Iran's network of allied militia in the Middle East has also been severely weakened by Israel's conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Lebanon-based Hezbollah. Another key ally, Syria's ex-president Bashar al-Assad, was overthrown late last year when his administration fell to a rebel uprising. Iran's military command structure has been decimated by the Israeli actions. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leader Hossein Salami and military chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri were both killed in strikes, while at least two other senior IRGC members and some atomic scientists also died. Meanwhile, leaders of the Group of Seven major economies are gathering in Canada and attention will be on Trump's reaction to the conflict. Going into the summit, there was a common desire to keep fraught geopolitical issues off the table, but that will be difficult given the knock-on effects of a spike in oil prices on inflation. With assistance from Fadwa Hodali. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Economic Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Stocks sell off, oil surges as Israel strikes Iran
Israel reportedly struck Iran, triggering market turmoil amid already heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program and U.S. efforts to curb it. Oil prices surged, while stocks fell as investors sought safe-haven assets like the yen and U.S. Treasuries. Analysts are closely watching for further escalation and potential impacts on global oil supply. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads QUOTES: MATT SIMPSON, SENIOR MARKET ANALYST, CITY INDEX, BRISBANE: Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads JESSICA AMIR, MARKET STRATEGIST, ONLINE TRADING PLATFORM MOOMOO, SYDNEY: HIROFUMI SUZUKI, CHIEF FX STRATEGIST, SMBC, TOKYO: TONY SYCAMORE, ANALYST, IG, SYDNEY: Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads KARL SCHAMOTTA, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST, CORPAY, TORONTO: CHARU CHANANA, CHIEF INVESTMENT STRATEGIST, SAXO, SINGAPORE: Israel said early on Friday that it struck Iran, and Iranian media said explosions were heard in Tehran as tensions mounted over U.S. efforts to win Iran's agreement to halt production of material for an atomic U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said there was no U.S. assistance or involvement in the operation. MARKET REACTION : U.S. stock futures fell more than 1%, oil prices jumped and U.S. Treasuries rose. The U.S. dollar, Japanese yen and Swiss franc rallied."A surge of one-way volatility to the demise of risk appetite is playing out on reports of Israel's strike on Iran, with traders pushing the yen, Swiss franc and gold higher while global index futures point lower."Oil prices surged 6% in minutes on supply concerns, taking its 3-day total to 12.3%. This could keep volatility elevated heading into the weekend, with traders likely wanting to hedge gap risks for next week.""We've seen equities stalling for some time, and it just appears that this is the catalyst that will probably send equities down lower. Stocks are up 30% globally, and you've got the MSCI World Index at a record, so there's room for fat to be taken off the table."What's going to continue to soar higher is, obviously, the defensive sectors, so utilities, energy, and also defence (companies) themselves."The (Middle East) region is a huge supplier of oil and obviously there's now the thinking that some of that supply could be cut off at a time when we've got demand really starting to pick up.""The situation in the Middle East has further deteriorated, and the heightened geopolitical risks are being strongly felt in the FX market. With the rise in risk-off sentiment, the Japanese yen is likely to be bought. The USD/JPY exchange rate is seeing the 140 yen level, observed in April, as a potential support level.""I thought Israel might give Iran the benefit of the doubt ahead of weekend talks with the U.S., but they've obviously decided to go it alone."While details are sparse regarding the targets, risk asset markets are not in the mood to wait and find out."This morning's alarming escalation is a blow to risk sentiment and comes at a crucial time after macro and systematic funds have rebuilt long positions and investor sentiment has rebounded to bullish levels. While we await further news and a potential response from Iran, we are likely to see a further deterioration in risk sentiment as traders cut risk seeking positions ahead of the weekend.""Traders are scurrying for safety as reports of a strike on Iran cross the wires, but details on the scale and magnitude of the attack remain scarce and moves have been relatively limited thus far.""The geopolitical escalation adds another layer of uncertainty to already fragile sentiment."The key question now is whether this marks a brief flare-up or the beginning of broader regional escalation. If the situation de-escalates quickly, markets may retrace some of the initial moves. But if tensions rise - particularly with any threat to oil supply routes - the risk-off mood could persist, keeping upward pressure on crude and haven assets."
