Financial News

S&P Futures Flat Ahead of U.S. and Iran Peace Talks Tomorrow, US CPI Data Today

Energy Vault Holdings Enters Japanese Battery Energy Storage Market With Portfolio Purchase

Energy storage specialist Energy Vault Holdings (NRGV) has entered the Japanese market via a binding agreement to buy a pipeline of battery energy storage projects from an unnamed domestic developer, it said in a statement on Thursday.Energy Vault will acquire a portfolio spanning 850 megawatts of battery energy storage systems in what it says is one of the fastest-growing and structurally-advantaged energy storage markets among developed economies.This includes a 350 MW of advanced stage projects that will start construction in the second half of 2027 and operate from about one year later along with 500 MW of early stage projects.Energy Vault says Japan's market is particularly attractive given forecasts for very strong growth in battery energy storage deployment driven by grid constraints and fast-growing renewables capacity.The company said its global portfolio has now grown to more than 1 gigawatt of critical energy and AI digital compute infrastructure in operation or under construction.

China Launches 23rd Free Trade Zone in Inner Mongolia

China established the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), expanding its pilot FTZ network to 23, according to the State Council.The new zone is a strategic push to deepen reform, accelerate high-standard opening up and fuel high-quality development.Under the plan, Inner Mongolia will become a major hub for logistics, resource allocation, tech innovation and cross-border trade.

Zheneng Jinjiang Environment Transactions Talks Still Ongoing

Zheneng Jinjiang Environment (SGX:BWM) said the discussion with an unnamed party regarding a possible transaction involving the company's shares are still ongoing, according to a Friday filing with the Singapore Exchange.To date, no decision has been made and there is no certainty whether a transaction will materialize.

Earnings Flash (CJR-B.TO) Corus Entertainment Inc. Posts Q2 Adjusted Loss C$0.04 per Share, Vs Loss of $0.21 a Year Earlier

Yaskawa Electric's Full-Year Profit Drops 38%

Yaskawa Electric's (TYO:6506) profit attributable to owners of the parent fell 38% to 35.2 billion yen for the fiscal year 2025 from 57 billion yen a year earlier.The robotics company's earnings per share declined to 135.71 yen from 218.38 yen a year ago, according to a Tokyo bourse filing on Friday.Revenue inched up 0.8% to 542.1 billion yen for the full year ended Feb. 28 from 537.7 billion yen in the prior year.For the fiscal year 2026, the company expects attributable profit of 47 billion yen, EPS of 181.21 yen, and revenue of 580 billion yen.Yaskawa plans to pay interim and year-end dividends of 36 yen each per share for the year, higher than the amount paid in the year-ago period.

Henlius Biotech Doses First Patient in Breast Cancer Drug Study

Shanghai Henlius Biotech (HKG:2696) said the first subject has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical study of HLX319 in the Chinese Mainland, according to a Friday Hong Kong bourse filing.The drug is intended to treat early-stage or locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer.

Earnings Flash (CJR-B.TO) Corus Entertainment Inc. Reports Q2 Revenue C$230.2M, Down 15% YoY

USG Tech Solutions Appoints CFO

Technology company USG Tech Solutions (BOM:532402) has appointed Sunil Sharma asits chief financial officer, effective Friday, according to a same-day filing to the BSE.The company's shares were up nearly 2% in recent trade.

Metro Confirms Strategic Review Is Ongoing

Intraco Buys Back More Shares

Intraco (SGX:I06) bought back 1,200 shares in the open market on Friday for SG$457, or about SG$0.38 per share, according to a same-day filing with the Singapore Exchange.The plastics resin and other petrochemical products company has been authorized to repurchase 10.8 million shares under its current mandate and has so far bought back about 1.6 million shares.

Takeuchi Mfg.'s Profit Climbs 8.3% in Fiscal 2025

Takeuchi Mfg.'s (TYO:6432) profit attributable to owners of the parent rose 8.3% to 28.3 billion yen for the fiscal year 2025 from 26.1 billion yen a year earlier.The construction machinery company's basic earnings per share increased to 611.92 yen from 552.45 yen a year ago, according to a Tokyo bourse filing on Friday.Net sales edged up 5.7% to 225.3 billion yen for the full year ended Feb. 28 from 213.2 billion yen in the prior year.For the fiscal year 2026, the company expects attributable profit of 25.9 billion yen, EPS of 560.69 yen, and net sales of 244 billion yen.In a separate filing, Takeuchi Mfg. said it will begin paying interim dividends starting with the fiscal year 2026, shifting from its previous practice of a single year-end dividend.As such, the company forecasts total annual dividends of 220 yen per share for the fiscal year 2026, consisting of an 110 yen interim and 110 yen year-end, compared with 210 yen paid at the end of the prior year.

Earnings Flash (MTY.TO) MTY Food Group Inc. Posts Q1 Adjusted EPS $0.98 per Share, vs. $0.87 in Q1-25

Hong Lai Huat Buys Back, Cancels Shares

Hong Lai Huat (SGX:CTO) bought back and canceled 19,900 shares worth SG$1,726 or SG$0.088 apiece on Friday, according to a same-day filing with the Singapore Exchange.The property developer has so far repurchased around 30.9 million shares under its existing buyback mandate.

Earnings Flash (MTY.TO) MTY Food Group Inc. Reports Q1 Revenue $267.8M, vs. $284.792M a Year Earlier

WTI Crude Oil Futures Rise 0.9% to $98.70 Pre-Bell; Brent Futures Climb 0.7% to $96.61

Commerzbank on Overnight News

Commerzbank in its "European Sunrise" note of Friday highlighted:Markets: United States Treasuries partly reverse earlier gains in the late New York session, slightly weaker in Asia. E-minis maintain Thursday's gains. The euro (EUR) unchanged at $1.169. Brent trends sideways around $96.3/barrel.Fed: Senate Banking Committee delays Kevin Warsh's Federal Reserve chair confirmation hearing. White House National Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett says he was confident Warsh would start as Fed chair in May.Middle East: President Donald Trump is "very optimistic" about a peace deal with Iran (NBC interview), but threatens Iran for charging fees in the Strait of Hormuz, warning "they better stop now." Israel agrees to direct talks with Lebanon; talks to begin next week (Axios). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says strikes on Hezbollah targets will continue.NATO: President Trump renews threat to take control of Greenland. He pressures allies to increase support in securing the Strait of Hormuz.==EUROPE:EU: Talks with the United Kingdom continue to let Ukraine buy British arms via the currently stalled 90 billion European Union loan (Bloomberg sources).Hungary: President Trump says "get out and vote for Victor Orban" in the upcoming parliamentary election.BoE: Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warns that stress in the $3 trillion private credit market, coupled with the ongoing energy price shock, could trigger broader financial instability.==ASIA:China: The consumer price index rose 1.0% year over year in March, while the consensus was 1.1%. The producer price index up 0.5% year over year versus the consensus 0.4%.BoJ governor warns of stagflation risk from Iran war.

Gold Futures Fall 1% to $4,771.9/Oz Pre-Bell; Silver Drops 1.5% to $75.29/Oz as Iran Truce Hangs in Balance

Pou Sheng International's Operating Revenue Slips 6.3% in March

Pou Sheng International (HKG:3813) recorded an operating revenue of 1.35 billion yuan in March, down 6.3% from 1.44 billion yuan a year prior, according to a Friday Hong Kong bourse filing.For the first quarter of 2026, operating revenue declined 1.1% to roughly 5.05 billion yuan from 5.11 billion yuan previously.

Corus Entertainment Consolidated Revenue Decreased 15% for Q2