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Informist, Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2026                                      Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

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Equity Alert: Asian mkts open flat; South Korea to hike rate 25 bps to 2.75%

 

MUMBAI--0746 IST--Asian markets opened flat Tuesday after the US reinstated a naval blockade on Iran and imposed a 20?e on all cargoes shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.  

 

China's CSI 300 was flat. Japan's Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi were both almost flat. American depository receipts of South Korea's SK Hynix fell 9.3?ter rising more than 12% Friday on its Nasdaq debut.

 

South Korea's central bank is expected to raise its interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% on Thursday, marking its first rate hike in more than three years, according to a Reuters poll of economists. Another increase is also anticipated before the end of the year as inflation remains well above the Bank of Korea's 2% target. Consumer inflation accelerated to 3.2% in June, its highest level in two-and-a-half years, and is expected to stay close to 3% through the second half of the year. The reasons for the rate hike include strong economic growth, rising house prices, and elevated household debt. The central banks of Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines have already tightened their policies.

 

Singapore's FTSE and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell around 1?ch. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index was flat. 

 

The following are the levels of key indices in the region at 0746 IST:

 

Index	Level	Change in %
Nikkei 225 Day	67032.71	(-)0.3
TOPIX FIRST SECTION	4014.42	0.2
S&P/ASX 200 Index	8776.3	(-)0.4
KOSPI Index	6786.72	(-)0.3
Hang Seng Index	24004.8	(-)0.9
CSI 300 Index	4695.61	0.0
FTSE Singapore Strait Times	5415.47	(-)1.0

 

(Deesha Jadhav)

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Equity Alert: To open lower as oil prices rise on Trump's shipping-fee threat

 

MUMBAI--0835 IST--Domestic equity indices are expected to open lower Tuesday as crude oil prices climbed over $80 a barrel after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose shipping fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Supply disruption of crude oil is expected to intensify again as the US reinstated the blockade of Iranian ports. The market is also likely to mirror losses in its Asian peers, most of which were down in early trade.

 

"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump said on his Truth Social. "We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait."

 

"The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,'" Trump added, "but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World."

 

At 0829 IST, the September futures contract of Brent Crude oil was over 1% higher at $84.28 a barrel. Crude oil prices are now nearly 16% higher than their pre-war levels of $72.87 a barrel. 

 

At 0830 IST, the GIFT Nifty July futures contract was 0.1% down at 24058.50, lower than 15.50 points from its previous close. The GIFT Nifty movement also suggested a lower opening for the Nifty 50 index, as it was over 150 points lower than the Nifty 50's previous close of 24211.

 

"Technically, the Nifty index is consolidating in a 'Broadening' formation, with immediate support around the 23800 spot level and resistance near 24600," Vipin Kumar, assistant vice president of research at Globe Capital Market, said. "A breakout on either side of the 23800–24600 spot zone is essential for a sustainable move in that direction. Within this range, a move and sustenance above 24300 could lead it toward 24600, while a fall below 23960 could drag it back to the 23800 spot level."

 

Market participants will also keep a close look at the June quarter corporate results to get directional cues on the market, along with global updates and oil price trends. Shares of HCL Technologies will be keenly tracked Tuesday as the company announced its June quarter results post market hours Monday.

 

The company had reported a consolidated net profit of INR 46.24 billion, up more than 3% on quarter and higher than analysts' consensus estimate of INR 44.70 billion. The company's bottom line rose over 20% on year. Its consolidated revenue for the reporting quarter rose nearly 2% on quarter to INR 345.79 billion, higher than the Street's view of INR 343.58 billion.

 

Among Asian indices, Taiwan's TAIEX fell the most, down 2.6%. South Korea's KOSPI was down nearly 2% in early trade. All three major US indices also settled lower on Monday, where the Nasdaq Composite closed 1.5% lower.  (Arundathi A R)

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Equity Alert: US indices close lower; US reinstates blockade on Iran 

 

MUMBAI--0653 IST--US equity indices ended lower Monday as rising tensions with Iran weighed on investor sentiment. US President Donald Trump's decision to reinstate a blockade on Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz pushed global oil prices sharply higher. "We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, CNBC reported.

 

The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.6%, the S&P 500 closed almost 1% lower, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended flat. American depository receipts of South Korea's SK Hynix fell 9.3% Monday, after it rose more than 12% Friday on its Nasdaq debut.

 

Investors now await economic updates and corporate earnings. US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is set to deliver his first semi-annual testimony before US Congress, where he will be questioned about the inflationary impact of the US-Iran war. Markets are also awaiting the Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index, and retail sales data for June, which will offer insight into inflation trends in the US and how the consumer is spending amid rising fuel costs.

 

Major banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo are scheduled to announce their quarterly results Tuesday. Analysts are expecting S&P 500 companies to report second-quarter earnings growth of around 24% compared with 19.2% in April.

 

Brent crude oil rose more than 9%, marking its biggest single-day gain in years, while US Treasury yields climbed as traders worried that higher oil prices could keep inflation elevated.

 

Following are the closing levels of major US indices Monday:

 

Index	Level	Change in %
Dow Jones Industrial Average	52498.64	(-)0.3
NASDAQ Composite	25873.18	(-)1.6
S&P 500	7515.34	(-)0.8

 

(Deesha Jadhav)

 

US$1 = INR 95.62

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

All prices from National Stock Exchange, unless otherwise specified.

All percentage changes for share prices are rounded off to the nearest whole number; percentage changes for index values are rounded off to one decimal place.

All times are Indian Standard Time.

 

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