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Asian markets moved in different directions on Wednesday with countries like Japan and Taiwan registering small gains, following a strong performance on Wall Street the previous day.However, ongoing concerns about US trade policy under president Donald Trump continued to make investors worried.
Associated Press reported that in Tokyo, Japan’s main stock index Nikkei rose slightly, but shares of car companies dipped after Trump signed an order that rolled back some tariffs on car parts. Hong Kong and South Korea saw declines, while Taiwan and Australia showed small gains.
In the US, the main stock indexes continued their upward streak. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both rose, helped by strong earnings reports from major companies. Honeywell International saw its stock jump over 5% after it reported higher-than-expected profits and raised its forecast for the year. Paint maker Sherwin-Williams also posted solid gains.
UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company, reported better profits than analysts expected. However, it also announced plans to cut 20,000 jobs and close 73 buildings due to economic uncertainty, which pushed its shares slightly lower.
Many CEOs are unsure how long profits can hold up amid Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies. There’s growing concern that tariffs could slow down global trade and make goods more expensive. A recent report showed US consumer confidence has fallen sharply—now at its lowest since 2011. That’s usually a warning sign for recession. Even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged the tension, calling the economic confusion a “strategic” part of Trump’s negotiation tactics.
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Modi’s Asia Double Play: Japan Now, China Next — What India Wants (and Risks)
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[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
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[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
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[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
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