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CORRECTED-Japan's Nikkei closes near 8-month low on US tariff jitters
TOKYO, March 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average closed near an eight-month low on Monday, following sharp losses on Wall Street in the previous session, as investors assessed the risk of imminent U.S. trade tariffs.The Nikkei .N225 fell 4.05% to 35,617.56, its lowest close since August ...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Billionaire Bill Gates Has 66% of His Foundation's $44 Billion Portfolio Invested in 3 Phenomenal Stocks
Bill Gates is one of the most well-known billionaires in the world. The Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) founder was the first person to ever become a centibillionaire, reaching a net worth of $100 billion in 1999, well ahead of anyone else. (Jeff Bezos was next in 2017.)But Gates is extremely generous with...The Motley Fool
Mon, Mar 31
Alibaba.com Records Double-Digit Order Growth in the USA During March Expo
March Expo, Alibaba.com's flagship sourcing event, saw US SME buyers leverage AI and digital sourcing to build new supplier partnerships and unlock growth opportunities NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, h...PR Newswire
Mon, Mar 31
My Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy Right Now
For more than two years, nearly any stock tied to artificial intelligence (AI) was sizzling hot. That's no longer the case. Several AI stocks have plunged by double-digit percentages so far in 2025.Should investors throw in the towel? Not if they don't want to miss out on potentially huge returns. I...The Motley Fool
Mon, Mar 31
South African rand strengthens as gold hits fresh peak
JOHANNESBURG, March 31 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand strengthened on Monday, as gold hit a fresh high and optimism grew over the prospect of an agreement between the two biggest government partners on the budget.At 0728 GMT, the rand traded at 18.2375 against the dollar ZAR=D3, about 1.1% stro...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Claiming Social Security Early? 1 Rule That Might Catch You Off Guard
Social Security benefits have been around for a very long time. And as you might imagine, a program as essential as Social Security is one that's loaded with rules.Some of those rules may be pretty well known. For example, many people are aware that 62 is the earliest age to sign up for Social Secur...The Motley Fool
Mon, Mar 31
EMERGING MARKETS-Asian stocks tumble as US tariffs fuel slowdown fears
South Korean stocks slump 3%Taiwan's stocks hit lowest since August 2024Taiwan dollar weakens to March 2016 lowThai stocks hit April 2020 lowIndonesia, India, Singapore, Malaysia markets closedBy Sameer Manekar March 31 (Reuters) - Asian share markets tumbled on Monday, driven by concerns tha...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
EMERGING MARKETS-Asian stocks tumble as US tariffs fuel slowdown fears
South Korean stocks slump 3%Taiwan's stocks hit lowest since August 2024Taiwan dollar weakens to March 2016 lowThai stocks hit April 2020 lowIndonesia, India, Singapore, Malaysia markets closedBy Sameer Manekar March 31 (Reuters) - Asian share markets tumbled on Monday, driven by concerns tha...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
M&P slumps after US revokes licence for Venezuela activities
** Shares in Maurel et Prom MAUP.PA drop more than 12% after the French oil group said the U.S. had revoked its specific licence for activities in Venezuela** M&P had been granted a specific U.S. license for its 40% consolidated interest in the mixed company Petroregional del Lago (PRDL), which ...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
PRECIOUS-Gold hits record high, on track for best quarter since 1986 on tariff worries
Bullion up over 18% so far for the quarterTrump expected to announce reciprocal tariffs on April 2Dollar down 0.2% against its rivalsSilver, platinum, palladium set for monthly gainsBy Anushree Mukherjee March 31 (Reuters) - Gold hit a record high and was set to post its biggest quarterly gain in...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller Sells Microsoft Stock and Buys a Brilliant Stock Up 334% in 5 Years
Stanley Druckenmiller was one of the most successful hedge fund managers in American history, earning an annual return of 30% over a three-decade period. He closed his hedge fund years ago but now manages his own money through Duquesne Family Office. That means investors can still follow his trades....The Motley Fool
Mon, Mar 31
UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 31
March 31 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Monday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.69%.* THAMES WATER: Thames Water named KKR KKR.N as the frontrunner to invest new equity into Britain's biggest water supplier.* ASTON MARTIN: Aston Martin AML.L said Chairman Lawre...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Pro-Beijing media ramp up attack on CK Hutchison ports deal
Politicians, lawyers support China market regulator's plan to review deal, newspaper saysChina can also use national security law, data security law, newspaper saysCK Hutchison shares drop after reports of it delaying deal HONG KONG, March 31 (Reuters) - A pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper ...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Italy - Factors to watch on March 31
The following factors could affect Italian markets on Monday.Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).For a complete list of diary events in Italy please click on IT/DIA.POLITICSU.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he wi...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: futures signal pain ahead
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.comEUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES SIGNAL PAIN AHEADEuropean stocks are headed for drops at the open, as recession fears ratchet up, follo...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Autoliv Retires Repurchased Shares, Decreases Number of Issued Shares
STOCKHOLM, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE: ALV) and (SSE: ALIV.sdb), the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, today announced that as of March 31, 2025, the total number of issued shares of common stock is 79,914,590 of which 77,305,582 shares are outstanding. Aut...PR Newswire
Mon, Mar 31
LIVE MARKETS-Risk assets trampled as Trump touts tariffs for all
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.comRISK ASSETS TRAMPLED AS TRUMP TOUTS TARIFFS FOR ALLIt's been a rocky start to the week in Asia as a rush from risk left stocks down...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Markets in Q1: Everything's been Trumped!
Trade war and U.S. geopolitical shifts dominated Q1World stocks flat overall but U.S. tech giants whackedGold has had best quarter since 1986Dollar on course for worst Q1 since GFCBy Marc Jones LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - Most investors knew things could turn turbulent this year given U.S. Presi...Reuters
Mon, Mar 31
Riding the Wave of 'Tech + Consumption' and Completing Strategic Upgrades, Huitongda Network (09878) Demonstrates Strong Momentum for High-Quality Development
Recently, Han Wenxiu, Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs and Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Work, pointed out at the 2025 Annual Summit of China Development that under the backdrop of growing external uncertain and unstable factors, China will unswervingly do its own thing well and respond to the uncertainty of the external environment with the certainty of high-quality development. Han Wenxiu emphasized, "The expansion of domestic demand is our committed long-term strategy. We strive to make consumption the major driver and cornerstone of economic growth." He also pointed out, "We will adhere to technology leadership, innovation-driven, adapt measures to local conditions, develop new quality productive forces, vigorously encourage emerging industries, proactively cultivate future industries, and proactively use digital technology, green technology, and artificial intelligence to transform and upgrade traditional industries."The complexity and uncertainty of the market environment continue to intertwine, which also demand higher requirements for enterprises.As a model enterprise for cultivating new quality productive forces, Huitongda Network (09878) proactively seizes the strategic opportunities brought about by the national policy of expanding domestic demand. Since 2024, the company has proactively adjusted and optimized its business structure, and promoted the company's sustainable and high-quality development in multiple aspects from improving customer mix to enhancing supply chain capability. Reflecting in the data, Huitongda Network's gross profit margin increased significantly during the period, from 3.3% in the same period in 2023 to 3.8% in 2024, of which the gross profit margin in the second half of the year reached 4.3%, a sequential increase of 23%, reaching a new high level for the year. Benefiting from the continuous optimization of the business structure and the effective implementation of cost reduction and efficiency enhancement measures, the company's operating cash flow has remained positive for 6 consecutive years, and its growth energy has been continuously enhanced. It can be seen that through a highly flexible strategy upgrade, the company is accelerating its transformation from a "business optimization period" to a "value release period".According to Zhitong Finance APP, in order to further promote business development, the company has implemented strategy upgrades in the following aspects.Firstly, improvement of customer structure - In order to improve the penetration and stickiness of member stores, Huitongda Network will focus on the existing 21 provinces, 25,000 townships, and over 248,000 member stores, lay out AIaaS in advance, and accelerate the implementation of the AI+ strategy to strengthen the company's organic growth. From the perspective of network coverage in the lower-tier rural market, Huitongda Network has already established economies of scale and competitive barriers. It is expected that in the next three years, under the two guiding principles of enhancing "network penetration" and "customer stickiness", the number of member stores will not only further increase, but the transaction scale of member stores will also continue to grow from 39% in 2023 to 44% in 2024, and ultimately establish a "scale x quality" double-barrier system at the customer level to achieve customer structure optimization and upgrade.Secondly, improvement of supply chain capability - Huitongda Network will fully promote three major projects, improve TOP brand collaboration through the brand direct train project. The company will also build out its self-owned brand portfolio through its integrated brand ecosystem project. Meanwhile, the company will construct an AI-driven POP platform through the open supply chain platform project. At the same time, the company will continue to optimize the supply chain structure, increase TOP procurement, increase its own brands, and increase new product categories. Benefiting from the implementation of such strategy, Huitongda Network's overall gross profit margin shows a steady upward trend. At the beginning of 2025, the company stated at the "Own Brand Cluster Strategy Press Conference" that it will continue to expand the strategic collaboration of 5-10 TOP brands in the year.To open up a new growth cycle with high quality strategy upgrades by dispelling the uncertainty of the market, Huitongda Network has now arrived the starting line of a new round of long development cycle. Prioritizing profit and cash flow, high quality growth through the dual growth engines of "organic and + extension", the company is well positioned to benefit from the lower-tier market with a scale of over RMB 20 trillion, Huitongda Network's advantages of "supply chain + digitization" and "online + offline" are expected to continue to strengthen.Zhitong Finance learned from the industry that based on Huitongda Network's transformation from scale-oriented to profit-oriented, it has released a clear profit visibility: it is expected that in the next three years, Huitongda Network's target revenue compound growth rates will not be less than 10%, and the compound growth rates of net profits attributable to the parent company will not be less than 30%. It is expected that by 2026, the company's profit level will exceed the historical peak. It is worth noting that Huitongda Network's future growth curve shows significant structural optimization characteristics -- the profit growth rate will be higher than the scale growth rate. At the same time, the company plans to start a dividend plan as early as 2025 to increase shareholder returns.Huitongda Network is currently in a critical period of business structure optimization and cultivating new momentum for long-term growth. Zhitong Finance APP believes that in 2025, Huitongda Network will start a new growth cycle. With the continuous advancement of Huitongda Network's strategic upgrade, coupled with multiple favourable policies under the country's "Technology + Consumption" policy direction, the company's performance is bound to gradually match the growth expectations.At present, the company's stock price has adjusted to a relatively low level. Driven by the company's strong growth momentum, the continued popularity of the Hong Kong stock market, policy support and other multiple favorable factors, Huitongda Network may usher in an unprecedented bottom out opportunity. In addition, with the launch of the company's dividend plan, investors will also be able to share the benefits of the company's high quality growth at that time.31/03/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.Media archive at www.todayir.comEQS
Mon, Mar 31
