U.S. stock futures were mostly flat night, with Dow futures edging slightly higher following news of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Earlier in the day, markets reached new highs, as the S&P 500 rose 0.26% and the Nasdaq gained 0.36%, while the Dow added 0.24%. The rally has been largely driven by optimism that the Iran conflict may be nearing an end and that peace talks could progress, pushing weekly gains to 5.2% for the Nasdaq and 3.3% for the S&P 500. However, strategists caution that the rally may lack broad participation and advise investors to remain diversified and cautious amid ongoing uncertainty.
Earnings reactions were mixed, with Netflix falling about 9% due to weak guidance despite strong first-quarter results, and Alcoa dropping around 4% after missing expectations. Looking ahead, more bank earnings are expected, while some analysts warn of potential economic softness and continued market volatility even if geopolitical tensions ease.
Yangzijiang Maritime to sell 4 tankers while adding another 8 newbuilds
MoneyMax to broaden share base by placing out 53 mil shares
OCBC AGM:
OCBC says exposure to Middle East ‘not very large’ at 2% – 3%.
The bank to defer the potential redevelopment of 63 and 65 Chulia Street and 18 Church Street. The development, he notes, would have cost the bank some $5 billion and would leave it “very challenged” amid the current storm.
Instead, $2.5 billion were paid out through dividends and share buybacks, a move which Lee describes as a “wise decision”.
No further chances on GEH privatisation, says OCBC chairman Andrew Lee
Keppel DC REIT‘s 1Q2026 DPU rises 13.2% to 2.833 cents.
Strong financial performance:
Revenue +18.4%, NPI +19.4%, distributable income +20.7%
DPU rose 13.2% to 2.833 cents
Growth drivers: Gains were supported by acquisitions (e.g., Tokyo Data Centre 3) and strong portfolio performance.
Rental reversions surged but are expected to moderate, while the unit price has rebounded with a ~4.84% yield and a target price of $2.55.
KDC REIT is planning a “transformational” upgrade (AEI) for KDC Singapore 1, supported by a long lease extension to 2055 and potential demand from hyperscale tenants. The upgrade may cause temporary income loss, though this could be offset through fees or capital support.
Alpha Integrated REIT’s 1QFY2026 portfolio occupancy improves to 91.4%
Hong Kong stocks rallied strongly, with the Hang Seng Index rising 1.7%, the HSCEI gaining 2.1%, and the HSTECH index jumping 3.7% on heavy turnover of about $256 billion. The surge was led by technology stocks amid optimism around cloud computing and AI, with major names like Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, Lenovo, and Kingsoft Cloud posting solid gains. Strength extended across the sector, as companies such as Advantest, Screen Holdings, Disco Corp, and AI-related firms like Knowledge Atlas, MiniMax, DeepExi Tech, and Xunce saw strong buying interest. Semiconductor players including Biren Tech, Iluvatar CoreX, SMIC, and Hua Hong Semiconductor also advanced sharply, reflecting continued enthusiasm for chip and AI demand. Beyond tech, gains were broad-based, with power equipment firms like Dongfang Electric and Harbin Electric, as well as uranium player CGN Mining, also rising, highlighting widespread market strength.
Malaysian corporate updates showed mixed performance across sectors, with Ancom Nylex posting a slight rise in 3QFY2026 net profit to RM18.3 million despite a small dip in revenue due to weaker contributions from several divisions, while Gadang swung into a net loss of RM10.38 million amid higher costs and slower construction progress . YNH Property faced a winding-up petition over unpaid taxes but is working on a settlement, whereas Coastal Contracts introduced a dividend policy targeting at least a 20% payout. Meanwhile, MTT Shipping delivered strong FY2025 results with profit up 29% on better shipping performance, and AMS Advanced Material reported its first quarterly profit ahead of listing. On the corporate front, Zetrix AI secured a role in managing Socso schemes, Plenitude appointed a new CEO, and JcbNext trimmed its stake in Taiwan’s 104 Corp for a gain. Concerns emerged for Rimbunan Sawit due to going-concern risks, while Mi Technovation plans expansion and a listing of its semiconductor unit. In property and restructuring moves, S P Setia is launching new homes, and Careplus is divesting a non-core property unit.
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