Swiss watch exports declined in January as the industry struggled with shifting trade policies in the United States and a broader slowdown in luxury demand. While the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) reported a 3.6% drop in total shipments to 1.9 billion Swiss francs ($2.46 billion), a cautious recovery in Greater China provided a rare bright spot for the sector.
Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury reaffirmed the necessity of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) on Thursday, countering recent skepticism from German leadership regarding the project's viability. Despite growing disagreements over technical specifications and industrial leadership, Faury argued that the €100 billion initiative remains essential for European defense autonomy through 2040.
The International Monetary Fund is calling on Beijing to overhaul its economic model, warning that a reliance on external demand is no longer sustainable as trade tensions and a domestic property slump weigh on the world’s second-largest economy.
U.S. equity futures signaled a cautious opening on Wall Street while European markets softened in morning trading, as investors balanced rising energy prices against a slight uptick in sovereign bond yields.
Mondi shares climbed to the top of the FTSE 100 on Thursday after the paper and packaging giant reported a 3% revenue increase, as robust sales volumes and recent acquisitions successfully offset a sharp decline in global pricing.
Alphabet’s Google and Singapore-based tech giant Sea are expanding their partnership to develop advanced "agentic AI" tools across e-commerce, gaming, and digital finance. The collaboration aims to integrate autonomous AI capabilities into Sea’s core platforms, including Shopee and Garena, to streamline consumer experiences and boost operational productivity across the Southeast Asian market.
Flight Holdings Inc. (3753.TO) reported a widening net loss of ¥356.00 million for the nine-month period ending Dec. 31, as the Japanese firm struggled with a significant contraction in top-line revenue. The results, based on Japanese accounting standards, reflect a challenging fiscal environment compared to the ¥271.00 million loss recorded during the same timeframe a year earlier.
Fisco Ltd. significantly reduced its parent-level net loss for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, reporting a deficit of 8 million yen as the company successfully pivoted back to operating profitability.
Freeport-McMoRan has reached a preliminary agreement with the Indonesian government to extend its operating rights at the massive Grasberg copper and gold mine beyond 2041, securing long-term access to one of the world's most critical mineral deposits.
South Korean brokerage stocks surged on Thursday, propelling the benchmark Kospi index past the 5,600 mark for the first time as investors reacted to robust trading volumes and proposed legislative reforms. The Kospi closed 3.1% higher, extending its year-to-date rally to 35% amid expectations of improved shareholder returns and rising commission revenues.
NTT Data Intramart Corp. reported a sharp increase in its nine-month earnings for the period ending December 31, with net profit reaching ¥618 million, up from ¥149 million a year earlier. The Japanese software provider saw revenue climb to ¥10.33 billion as operating margins improved significantly compared to the previous fiscal year.
Samsung Electronics shares surged to an all-time intraday high on Thursday, closing up 4.9% at 190,000 won ($131.72) as investors reacted to the company’s accelerated push into high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for artificial intelligence. The rally, which saw the stock touch a record 190,900 won, followed a broader tech surge in U.S. markets and growing optimism over Samsung’s newly launched HBM4 chips.
Japanese trading firm Meiwa Corp reported a decline in nine-month net profit to ¥2.18 billion, down from ¥2.45 billion a year earlier, despite a modest uptick in top-line revenue. The results, covering the period ending December 31, 2024, highlight a squeeze on bottom-line margins even as operating efficiency showed signs of improvement.
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. reported a sharp increase in full-year earnings, with net profit climbing to Y105.40 billion as annual revenue exceeded the trillion-yen threshold. The Tokyo-based manufacturer saw double-digit growth across all primary financial indicators for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, according to its latest financial statement.
Shares of CSE Global surged to their highest level since 2011 on Thursday after the infrastructure firm reported a record S$1.0 billion (US$789.2 million) in new orders for 2025. The 28% year-on-year growth, driven by aggressive expansion in the U.S. and strong performance in electrification and communications segments, triggered a 7.1% rally as Singapore markets reopened following the Lunar New Year holiday.
Japanese semiconductor testing giant Advantest is investigating a ransomware attack that breached its corporate network, prompting the company to isolate systems and engage outside cybersecurity experts.
Samsung Electronics shares surged to an all-time high on Thursday as the company began mass production of its next-generation AI memory chips, tracking a broader rally in the global semiconductor sector.
Telstra Group shares jumped to their highest level since early 2017 on Thursday after the Australian telecom giant ramped up its share buyback program and delivered an interim dividend that exceeded market expectations. The stock rose 5.0% to A$5.21 in Sydney trading, extending a 30% rally since the start of 2025 fueled by aggressive capital management and steady earnings growth.
DigitalBridge has reached an agreement to sell Substantial Group, the parent company of U.K. wholesale fiber operator Netomnia, to Nexfibre in a deal valued at an enterprise value of £2 billion ($2.7 billion).
Wendy’s Co. announced Wednesday it will evaluate potential strategic proposals from Trian Fund Management after its largest shareholder signaled interest in taking the fast-food chain private.
Wall Street saw sharp volatility in after-hours trading Wednesday as investors weighed a billion-dollar e-commerce acquisition against disappointing operational hurdles in the automotive sector.
eBay Chief Executive Jamie Iannone has detailed a strategy to replicate the company’s success in collectibles by integrating the fashion marketplace Depop into its broader ecosystem. Speaking to analysts, Iannone confirmed that while Depop will remain a standalone brand, its inventory will be cross-listed on eBay to maximize reach and sales volume.
Wesfarmers, the Australian retail and industrial giant, reported a 9.3% increase in first-half net profit to A$1.60 billion, prompting a dividend boost as strong performance at Bunnings and Kmart offset a slump in its office supply division.
Jack in the Box posted a net loss of $2.46 million in the first quarter, reversing a year-ago profit as declining traffic and a shrinking restaurant footprint weighed on the fast-food chain’s top line.
Avis Budget Group reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss on Wednesday as the rental giant aggressively devalued its electric vehicle fleet, signaling a sharp retreat from its previous EV strategy.
Brambles, the global logistics leader, raised its interim dividend and full-year cash flow guidance on Thursday after reporting a stronger-than-expected $792 million first-half underlying profit. The Sydney-listed company, which reports in U.S. dollars, successfully leveraged cost-cutting measures and supply-chain efficiencies to offset cooling consumer demand and persistent macroeconomic headwinds.
Energy sector shares climbed as U.S. oil futures surged 4.6% to close at $65.19 a barrel, driven by intensifying concerns over supply stability in the Middle East.
Johnson Controls announced Wednesday an agreement to acquire Alloy Enterprises, a thermal management specialist, to bolster its position in the rapidly expanding data center cooling market. The deal, expected to close in the fiscal third quarter, aims to address the rising thermal demands of modern computing infrastructure.
Shares in raw material producers climbed as a resurgence in precious metals prices coincided with strong 2025 earnings from mining giant Glencore. Despite dampened expectations for imminent interest rate cuts, optimistic economic growth projections from the Federal Reserve provided additional tailwinds for the commodities sector.
Industrial and transportation shares climbed as investors weighed a surge in defense spending initiatives across North America and Europe. From Canada’s new military strategy to record-breaking sales at BAE Systems, the sector is capitalizing on a shift toward rapid rearmament, even as geopolitical friction complicates major arms deals in Asia.
