China's benchmark Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to lowest in the three-and-a-half years. PMI was at 49.4 for January as against average forecast of 49.6. The PMI was 49.7 in December 2015. The disappointed China factory output data pulled oil prices lower.
Asia/Pacific
China's gold demand rises as investors seek safe haven
The gold buying demand from China is surging from last December onwards owing investors' priority to safe haven assets. The sluggish stock markets, weaker currency and lower global prices are prime reasons for the rising demand for the yellow metal. The consumption rose 3.7 percent to 985.9 metric tons in 2015.
It's too early to dump Chinese stocks, Citigroup tells investors
Citigroup holds view that it's too early to come to a conclusion about the state of the world's largest economy. It advises investors not to offload stocks over China. Citigroup in its latest research reports terms the present uncertainty and sluggishness in the Chinese economy and markets as a 'correction.'
Oil price may rebound 50% in 2016
The latest forecast indicates 50 percent rebound in oil prices by the end of 2016. The oil price could be higher by $15 per barrel this year taking the New York crude to $46 a barrel by fourth quarter and Brent to $48 during the same period. The drop in US shale output is likely to drive oil price up in the second half of 2016.
Xerox splits into two; Carl Icahn to get 3 berths on board
Xerox Corporation will be split into two separate business entities for hardware and services businesses. It's learnt that activist investor Carl Icahn will get multiple positions on the boards of the two companies including three on the board of services company. Xerox's fourth quarter numbers are expected to be released on Friday and an official statement about division may also be announced simultaneously.
Latest News
China shares plunged Tuesday at 6.4%. The Shanghai index closed below 2,800 for the first time since December 2014. The condition has worried the investors for the capital outflow from China. Other Asian markets dropped as oil prices decreased.
US Dollar has been witnessed to gain some value against yen in both Tokyo and Japan on Monday. The appreciation of dollar has taken place due to BoJ’s surprise move for slashing the interest rate to (-) 0.1%. Even BoJ Governor has hinted further rate slashing events, if situation demands. But economists have referred the attempt as an attraction drawing stance aiming to prevent yen from rising to boost up the sluggish economic growth.
Since her 2013 inauguration, president Park Geun-hye tried to enhance startups company and investing $3 billion. Now country starts to see the payoff of its initiative. One last hurdle is to change the people's mindset on entrepreneurship.
Alrosa PJSC has recorded 45 percent growth in sales for the fourth quarter of 2015. The rebound in the global diamonds market helped Alrosa post encouraging performance. The diamonds prices in the global market fell over 18 percent in 2015.
India is now the world's largest exporter of rice, with 10.23 million tons of rice exported in 2015. The country outranked the former leader, Thailand whose export numbers have fallen to 9.8 million tons this year, which also recorded the lowest rice prices in the last ten years. It seems the falling prices are also tied to the global oil crisis that has hit the rice importers, thereby affecting their purchasing power.
Hitachi Construction Machinery said that it has revised its earnings outlook for the fiscal year of March 2016. Hitachi blamed foreign exchange losses for its revised forecasts.
Oil prices rebounded on news that there may be production cut by OPEC. US Brent futures recouped losses by 6.8 percent and US crude pared 9.3 percent losses during the week. In overall, oil prices rebounded by over 25 percent after hitting 12-month low in January. Oil price hit $27.10 on 20 January 2016.
India's Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the country needs $10billion funds to give a push to the economy growth. The Indian government is targeting $14.7 billion investments for infrastructure projects in next three years. The Finance Ministry has also increased budget allocations by 50 percent for infrastructure projects.
Russia says there's proposal from OPEC on production cuts and it's open to have a word on oil production cuts. Russia is a non-OPEC oil producing nation. Russian oil minister said that the proposal envisages five percent cut in the oil production to support falling oil price. However, there's no clarity over the proposal whether it was from OPEC or non-OPEC members.
