Daily Briefs

• Brent crude prices have fallen below $70 per barrel, driven by rising non-OPEC supply, weak global demand, and geopolitical shifts, easing inflationary pressures in oil-importing economies like India.
• Lower crude prices benefit OMCs, paints, tyres, and aviation, boosting margins, while upstream oil producers and government revenue face pressure, creating a mixed impact on India’s economy.
• Oil prices may remain range-bound in the mid-$60s to $70s, with OPEC+ production strategies, global demand trends, and geopolitical risks shaping future market movements.

• The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2% to as tech stocks rebounded, leading the S&P 500 up 0.5%, while the Dow Jones slipped 0.2% to 41,350
• Mitsubishi Electric aims to raise its defense business operating profit to ¥60bn by fiscal 2031, up 4x from the current fiscal year’s forecast
• Seven & i Holdings announced the resignation of two non-executive directors

• Iron Ore Dominance: Pilbara contributes 15% of Western Australia’s economic output, with iron ore exports supported by major operations like Mount Newman and global trade hubs such as Port Hedland.
• Diversification into Green Energy: The region is expanding into lithium, manganese, and vanadium mining while advancing hydrogen projects like the A$140 million Pilbara Hydrogen Hub to drive renewable energy leadership.
• Economic and Employment Impact: Pilbara has A$170 billion in active projects, supporting 40,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent roles.

• Japan’s banks can benefit from continued strong loan demand, with signals from the Tankan Survey and from the loan officer survey
• The story for Japan’s banks is not only about unwinding cross shareholdings and rising interest rates, but it’s also about core lending
• With bettering loan volume, with more demand and inclination to lend, banks can see benign credit metrics, further supporting profit delta

• New CEO positive for Intel plays such as Ibiden. SPE favourites to rally off lows.
• Apple and related suppliers failing to catch a bid with analysts bearish over AI delay.
• Sandisk down but Micron up…still room for NAND plays to run on price hike expectations?

• The Pilbara is a globally significant mining region, known for its vast iron ore reserves, economic importance, and evolving role in renewable energy development.
• BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue drive Pilbara’s mining industry, with BHP and Fortescue increasing output by 2.1% and 5.5% over five years, while Rio Tinto’s production declined by 0.6%.
• Mining costs have surged, with Rio Tinto’s unit costs rising 10.8% annually, the highest among the three, while Fortescue’s capital expenditure has grown 13% per year, outpacing competitors.

• Mining Disruptions: Cyclones in Pilbara can disrupt mining and port operations, affecting global iron ore supply and pricing, as seen with Cyclone Veronica (2019) and Cyclone Zelia (2025).
• Impact on Miners and Iron Ore: Post-cyclone stocks for major miners decline, with Rio Tinto showing increased volatility, iron ore prices tend to rise from weather impact. 
• Economic Risks: Cyclone-related damage leads to higher operational costs and recovery expenses, impacting company revenues and reinforcing the financial risks of extreme weather in resource-dependent regions.

• Ramelius and nickel mine stocks are down significantly today
• Ramelius announces a 17 year plan for Mount Magnet, including a pit cut back at Erinatus
• The pit cut back will increase pre production costs but extend the life of the pit and avoid sterilizing ore, impacting short term performance

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

• There are significant deposits at banks in the US, near all time high levels, at USD17.9 trillion in the most recent week’s data
• With lower interest rates, there is less propensity to save in bank deposits, we are seeing this well with Jumbo Time Deposits
• Against a volatile stock market it is worth keeping in mind, the incredibly high level of deposits at US banks

• The Mobile World Congress had a record attendance of 110,000 people this year, but some are questioning its relevance in the semiconductor industry
• Major chip companies had reduced presence at the event, signaling a shift away from semiconductor topics towards other emerging technologies like AI and data centers
• The telecom industry, which the event primarily caters to, is facing challenges with stagnant growth and operators are hesitant to upgrade to 6G, leading to a downbeat atmosphere for equipment suppliers at the event.

This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.