AI Stock Market News Today

Business sentiment in New Zealand has turned negative for the first time since 2023. Firms are grappling with a combination of escalating costs and weakening demand.

• Confidence index dropped from 32.5 in March to -10.6 in April
• First negative sentiment reading since August 2023

The Stock Exchange of Thailand may see its three-day winning streak stall as global markets pivot toward profit-taking. Despite recent gains, the index faces pressure from a downturn in U.S. and European bourses.

• SET index finished at 1,141.58 after a 0.21% daily increase.
• Three-day rally added 35 points to the Thai market.

Microsoft is reducing its headcount by thousands of positions. The company cites the efficiency gains provided by artificial intelligence as the primary catalyst for the move.

• Workforce reduction involving thousands of employees
• AI integration increasing operational productivity

Investment firm EDMP, INC. has acquired a stake in packaging leader Sonoco Products Company. The move aligns with the fund's strategy of targeting high-yield, deep-value equities.

• Acquisition of 53,828 shares of SON
• Estimated initial trade value of $2.77 million

China's manufacturing sector expanded slightly in April, surpassing analyst expectations even as new orders slowed. The data arrives as Beijing prepares for a critical trade summit with the United States.

• Manufacturing PMI of 50.3 indicates continued but slowing expansion
• Service sector contraction seen in non-manufacturing PMI of 49.4

The Indonesian stock market ended a seven-day decline on Wednesday, though headwinds from energy prices and geopolitical tension persist. The JCI is expected to trade sideways as investors await major U.S. tech earnings.

• JCI closed at 7,101.23, ending a 5.1% seven-day slide
• Bank Danamon Indonesia surged 14.86% while Aneka Tambang fell 3.96%

Domino's Pizza reported a slight miss on both top and bottom lines for the first quarter of 2026. Despite the results, management has committed an additional $1 billion to share buybacks to support shareholder value.

• Adjusted EPS: $4.13 (Expected: $4.28)
• Revenue: $1.15 billion (Expected: $1.17 billion)

The Japanese benchmark index declined on Thursday, erasing previous gains amid rising domestic COVID-19 cases. Despite modest gains on Wall Street, local health concerns and global inflation data pressured equity prices.

• Nikkei 225 dropped 227.83 points to 28,537.83
• Daily COVID-19 cases in Japan topped 13,000

Connection reports its highest order backlog since mid-2022, signaling strong future demand. The company aims to exceed broader U.S. IT market growth by 200 basis points in 2026.

• Targeting 200 bps outperformance of U.S. IT market in 2026
• Order backlog at highest level since mid-2022

Analysis of historical market data suggests a positive long-term outlook following significant short-term rallies. Meanwhile, new research highlights a concerning trend of rapid wealth depletion among heirs.

• S&P 500 10-day rally of 9.8% is historically bullish
• Median 12-month return after similar rallies is 20.8%

The United States has indicated it will continue its naval blockade of Iranian ports to restrict oil exports. The strategy aims to leverage economic pressure to force Iranian officials back to the negotiating table.

• US confirms no letup in naval blockade of Iranian ports
• Strategy focuses on choking off oil export revenues

The Hang Seng Index rebounded on Wednesday led by financial and tech gains, though surging oil prices and Middle East tensions threaten short-term stability. Investors remain cautious as global markets await major US tech earnings and digest a divided Federal Reserve vote.

• Hang Seng Index closed at 26,111.84, up 1.68%
• Ping An Insurance and China Life led insurance gains