1. Asia: Stocks in Asia Pacific traded mixed Thursday morning as investors continued to watch tensions between the U.S. and China. South Korea’s Kospi led gains among the region’s major markets as it rose 1.76 percent, with shares of automaker Hyundai Motor soaring more than 5 percent. Mainland Chinese stocks were mixed in early trade, with the Shanghai composite up around 0.2 percent while the Shenzhen component dipped 0.3 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index traded fractionally higher. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.32 percent in morning trade while the Topix index added 0.28 percent. Shares in Australia edged higher as the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.72 percent. Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index traded 0.72 percent higher, reported CNBC International. (Image: Reuters)
2. US: Stocks rose on Wednesday on the back of strong Disney earnings and coronavirus vaccine hopes as the broader market approached reached record levels set earlier this year. The S&P 500 advanced 0.6 percent to 3,327.77 and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.4 percent to 10,998.40. The Nasdaq briefly broke above 11,000 for the first time and posted a six-day winning streak. The S&P 500 closed higher for a fourth straight day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also posted a four-day winning streak, rallying 373.05 points, or 1.4 percent , to 27,201.52, reported CNBC International. (Image:AP)
3. Crude Oil: Oil prices rose to their highest since early March on Wednesday after a large decline in U.S. crude inventories and the dollar weakened, but mounting coronavirus infections had investors worried about the demand outlook. Brent crude was up 70 cents, or 1.6 percent, at $45.13 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate oil settled 49 cents, or 1.18 percent, higher at $42.19 per barrel. Both contracts gained over 4% earlier in the session, reported CNBC International. (Image: Reuters)
4. Market At Close On Wednesday: Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty pared gains to end Wednesday's volatile session flat. However, gains in metals and auto stocks capped the decline. The Sensex ended 24.58 points or 0.07 percent lower at 37,663.33 while the Nifty gained 6.40 points or 0.06 percent to settle at 11,101.65. The broader markets outperformed as the Nifty Midcap gained over 0.6 percent and the Nifty smallcap index ended over 1.2 percent higher. (Image: Reuters)
5. Rupee Close: The Indian currency ended gained by as much as 22 paise - or 0.29 percent, amid strength across most Asian currencies. The domestic currency moved within a range of 13 paise between 74.82 and 74.95 against the greenback during the four-hour session, before settling at 74.93 for the day. Gains in domestic equity markets and weakness in the dollar overseas supported the rupee, say analysts. (Image: Reuters)
6. SEBI Chief Ajay Tyagi's Term Extended: The government has extended the term of SEBI chief Ajay Tyagi, which was due to end in September this year, till February 2022. The government had given Tyagi a six-month extension in February this year when his first three-year stint was about to end. Terms of SEBI chief are typically extended by two years, which will now be achieved when Tyagi completes the extended tenure. Tyagi took charge of SEBI in March 2017. (Image: PTI)
7. Handicrafts Body Asks Govt For Continuation Of MEIS Benefits: The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts has written to the Commerce Ministry, requesting that the benefits under the Merchandise Exports from India (MEIS) scheme be extended. “The exporters of handicrafts also avail the benefit under MEIS scheme as the handicraft sector has been accorded priority under the scheme,” Ravi Passi, Chairman of EPCH said in the letter. “The current COVID crisis has resulted in the decline of exports of handicrafts by 67 percent during the first quarter of the current financial year 2020-21 and after the Government’s relaxation given under unlock -1 and unlock-2, some business activity has resumed and exports are beginning to take place. Keeping in view the current situation, it is requested that the applications for MEIS’s benefit may kindly be accepted and the funds may be released to the exporters,” the letter said. (Image: AP)
8. DPIIT To Appoint Agency To Scrutinize Govt Tenders: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will rope in a consulting agency to scrutinise tenders of government procuring entities for compliance with public procurement regulations that aim at promoting 'Made in India' products. The DPIIT has floated a notice inviting request for proposal (RFP) from interested agencies. The government issued Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017 on June 15, 2017, to promote production of goods and services in India and enhance income and employment in the country. (Image: AP)
9. Small Businesses In Mumbai, Delhi Most-Affected By Migration: Rising cases of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns are deterring migrant labourers from returning to their workplaces and will impact small businesses the most, particularly in Maharashtra and Delhi, a report said on Wednesday. Despite the labour shortage accelerating a shift to automation, entities in the manufacturing sector will be facing headwinds in the near term like low capacity utilisation, higher production cost; and hence, a contraction in profit margins, India Ratings and Research said. (Image: PTI)
10. Only 35% Gym Customers Ready To Return: After over four months of staying shut, gymnasiums and yoga centres reopened in several cities across the country on Wednesday under the third phase of unlocking the COVID-19 lockdown. Karnataka is among the states that allowed gyms and yoga centres to restart, and in Bengaluru, several gyms opened up, though several are still treading cautiously, while gym-goers are also only trickling in. As per Fitternity, a platform for gym discovery and subscriptions with nearly 20,000 listings, a consumer survey they conducted showed that only 35 percent of customers are ready to go back to gyms right away. (Stock Image)