Khadija Saeed

A dedicated markets reporter, she covers stocks, macroeconomics, and major business developments with a sharp eye for detail and accuracy.

Bank of China A shares dip into a policy-packed week as China GDP and margin rules loom

Bank of China A shares dip into a policy-packed week as China GDP and margin rules loom

Shanghai, Jan 18, 2026, 04:47 CST — Market closed Bank of China’s A shares on the Shanghai exchange slipped on Friday, finishing roughly 0.6% lower at 5.40 yuan. The stock fell below its previous close of 5.43 yuan, with mainland markets closed for the weekend. (Investing.com) The coming sessions are crucial as Beijing attempts to rein in a rapidly climbing stock market without stifling it completely. For major state lenders like Bank of China, this tug-of-war plays out in credit demand, funding costs, and investor risk appetite. Two policy currents collide: regulators clamp down on leverage in equities, even as
Siemens stock price: Friday dip sets up a big week for SIEGn.DE after AI factory and EU taxonomy updates

Siemens stock price: Friday dip sets up a big week for SIEGn.DE after AI factory and EU taxonomy updates

Frankfurt, Jan 17, 2026, 21:34 CET — The market has closed. Siemens shares ended Friday down 0.23% at 260.25 euros, leaving the German industrial giant without clear direction heading into the weekend. Xetra trading will resume Monday, Jan. 19. (MarketWatch) The slight shift is significant as the coming weeks are loaded with indicators on the industrial cycle — and Siemens stands out as a key proxy for automation, electrification, and rail investment. The company is set to report first-quarter earnings on Feb. 12, a date closely watched after many German cyclicals kicked off 2026 strongly. (Siemens) German shares slipped on
Intel stock drops into long weekend as Citi lifts rating; earnings test looms

Intel stock drops into long weekend as Citi lifts rating; earnings test looms

New York, Jan 17, 2026, 15:34 EST — Market closed. Intel Corp (INTC.O) shares fell 2.8% on Friday to close at $46.96, down $1.36 from the prior session’s $48.32. About 127.3 million shares changed hands. (Nasdaq) The dip comes after a fast start to the year. Intel is up 31% so far in 2026, a run driven by bets that the chipmaker can win new customers for its foundry business — its effort to make chips for outside designers — Bloomberg reported. (Bloomberg.com) Citigroup leaned into that view on Thursday, upgrading Intel to Neutral from Sell and lifting its price
RBC stock price holds near C$235 after TSX record close — what to watch before Monday

RBC stock price holds near C$235 after TSX record close — what to watch before Monday

Toronto, Jan 17, 2026, 15:27 ET — Market closed. Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) wrapped up Friday at C$235.42, ticking up 0.03%, while its U.S.-listed counterpart (RY) slipped 0.09% to close at $169.18. Toronto markets remain closed Saturday and will reopen Monday. (StockAnalysis) The quiet close counts since bank stocks move on rate calculations just as much as news. Investors want to figure out how quickly borrowing costs might drop without reigniting inflation, and if a weaker economy will push loan losses higher. Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite ticked up 0.04% to 33,040.55 on Friday, marking yet another record close. Energy shares
L’Oréal stock price dips into weekend: what to watch after Friday’s close in Paris

L’Oréal stock price dips into weekend: what to watch after Friday’s close in Paris

Paris, Jan 17, 2026, 21:24 CET — Markets have now closed. L’Oréal (OREP.PA) shares slipped 0.59%, ending Friday at 384.85 euros in Paris. The stock fluctuated between 382.40 and 388.90 euros during the session, with roughly 264,000 shares changing hands. (Investing.com) European stocks eased into the close, dragged down by luxury and mining sectors as investors prepared for a packed earnings calendar, Reuters reported. The STOXX 600 ended flat, with Europe’s luxury index dropping 3.2%. Richemont took a hit, sliding 5.4% after Bank of America downgraded it from “buy” to “neutral.” “The margin of safety that investors had previously is
International Holding Company (IHC) stock holds near 400 AED as Lukoil talks drag on — what to watch next

International Holding Company (IHC) stock holds near 400 AED as Lukoil talks drag on — what to watch next

ABU DHABI, Jan 18, 2026, 00:18 (GST) — Market closed. International Holding Company PJSC (IHC) shares ended Friday at 399.60 UAE dirhams, edging up 0.03%. The stock hovered tightly between 399.50 and 399.60 throughout the week. Trading volume was light, with roughly 248,000 shares changing hands, according to MarketScreener data. (MarketScreener) Abu Dhabi’s market is closed Saturday and Sunday. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange kicks off again Monday at 10:00 a.m. local time, following a brief pre-open phase beginning at 09:30, according to brokerage data. (Emirates NBD Securities) The key question now: will IHC make headlines with deals instead of
Kweichow Moutai stock price: 600519 slips again as China readies leverage curbs and GDP week

Kweichow Moutai stock price: 600519 slips again as China readies leverage curbs and GDP week

Shanghai, Jan 18, 2026, 04:16 GMT+8 — Market closed. Kweichow Moutai Co Ltd’s Class A shares (600519.SS) closed Friday down 0.5% at 1,382 yuan. Mainland markets are closed for the weekend, leaving investors to digest fresh leverage restrictions alongside a packed China data calendar ahead of the next session. (Yahoo Finance) The baijiu maker stands out as a preferred proxy for domestic consumption and a reliable go-to when traders seek size and liquidity without jumping on the latest trends. This positioning makes it vulnerable to changes in risk appetite and any signals from headline economic data. It still holds significant
American Express (AXP) stock price rises ahead of rate-cap week — what investors watch next

American Express (AXP) stock price rises ahead of rate-cap week — what investors watch next

NEW YORK, January 17, 2026, 15:16 (EST) — Market closed. American Express Co (AXP.N) shares ended Friday up 2.08% at $364.79, beating a slightly weaker U.S. stock market as investors digested new policy risks tied to credit-card rates. Volume hit about 3.5 million shares, well above its 50-day average of 2.6 million. The stock also outperformed rivals like JPMorgan Chase and Visa. (MarketWatch) The White House is considering an executive order to implement President Donald Trump’s push for a cap on credit card interest rates, Bloomberg News reported Friday. Such a move would immediately impact card issuers and payments companies
Applied Materials stock price holds near $327 after TSMC capex jolt — what to watch next

Applied Materials stock price holds near $327 after TSMC capex jolt — what to watch next

New York, Jan 17, 2026, 15:07 EST — The market has closed. Shares of Applied Materials ended Friday 2.5% higher, closing at $327.01 after fluctuating between $320.29 and $330.14. The U.S. markets will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so the next chance to trade will come Tuesday. (New York Stock Exchange) Customer spending is in focus. Taiwan Semiconductor announced a hefty $52 billion to $56 billion capital expenditure plan for 2026, targeting factories and equipment—well above analysts’ $46 billion forecast, Reuters reported. This signals strong tool demand across the industry. “The market has underestimated again how
PetroChina A-share stock price slips as LNG Canada stake-sale talk and oil swings set up Monday

PetroChina A-share stock price slips as LNG Canada stake-sale talk and oil swings set up Monday

Shanghai, Jan 18, 2026, 04:19 CST — The market has closed. PetroChina Co., Ltd. Class A shares (601857) slipped 1.7% to 9.80 yuan on Friday, following a session range of 9.71 to 9.99 yuan. The Shanghai Composite wrapped up down 0.26% at 4,101.9. (AAStocks) China’s market is closed for the weekend, leaving PetroChina’s next move tied to two volatile benchmarks: crude and gas prices. The stock remains a key liquid proxy for energy risk in onshore trading, particularly when company updates run dry. Late this week, a notable development emerged: Shell and Mitsubishi are considering selling their stakes in the
SAP stock price slips into the weekend — here’s what to watch before Jan. 29 earnings

SAP stock price slips into the weekend — here’s what to watch before Jan. 29 earnings

Frankfurt, Jan 17, 2026, 21:04 CET — The market has closed. SAP shares ended Friday 1.7% lower, closing at 202.15 euros. The stock dipped to a session low of 199.50 euros earlier, according to market data. (Investing.com) SAP’s share price now sits close to the low end of its 52-week range, right as a busy earnings and policy season kicks off. Germany’s DAX dropped 0.30% on Friday, while the tech-focused TecDAX slid 0.65%. (Investing.com UK) SAP set Jan. 29 to release its fourth-quarter and full-year results and noted it’s now in a quiet period, restricting management comments before then. Investors
Merck stock price slips after FDA fast-track questions; what MRK investors watch next week

Merck stock price slips after FDA fast-track questions; what MRK investors watch next week

New York, January 17, 2026, 15:06 (EST) — Market closed Merck & Co (MRK.N) shares dropped 1.9% on Friday, ending the day at $108.83. That’s roughly 4% shy of their 52-week peak of $112.90 hit earlier this month. (Reuters) Investors start the week focused on a new FDA fast-track program targeting quick decisions—just one to two months—on a select group of drugs. Internal documents obtained by Reuters reveal the FDA has already postponed reviews for some medicines chosen for the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher Program, which promises to shave four to six months off the usual “priority review” timeline. The

Stock Market Today

UOL Group Limited stock price holds near a record high — what to watch before SGX reopens

UOL Group Limited stock price holds near a record high — what to watch before SGX reopens

7 February 2026
SINGAPORE, Feb 7, 2026, 15:36 SGT — Market closed. UOL Group Ltd shares edged up 0.18% to S$11.02 on Friday, ending the week slightly higher as Singapore’s stock market closed for the weekend. (StockAnalysis) The move leaves UOL close to its Jan. 29 record of S$11.34 after a sharp run in recent weeks. The stock is up about 24% over the past month and has more than doubled over the last year, data on TradingView showed. (TradingView) That matters now because the stock has climbed into a zone where headlines can do more damage than chart lines. UOL’s gains also
Rio Tinto stock jumps as Glencore mega-merger is shelved; what to watch next week

Rio Tinto stock jumps as Glencore mega-merger is shelved; what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Rio Tinto’s U.S. shares closed up 2.5% at $93.37 Friday after the company ruled out a merger with Glencore, triggering a six-month “no-bid” lockout under UK takeover rules. Both companies cited disagreements over valuation. Attention now turns to Rio’s Feb. 19 results and iron ore prices, which fell below $100 a tonne amid weak Chinese demand.
iFAST share price drops 3% as markets shut; earnings next week in focus

iFAST share price drops 3% as markets shut; earnings next week in focus

7 February 2026
iFAST shares fell 3.2% to S$9.64 in heavy trading Friday, closing near the day’s low as investors awaited FY2025 results due Feb. 12. The stock is about 13% below its 52-week high. iFAST recently agreed to buy a 30% stake in Financial Alliance for S$19.6 million, pending regulatory approval. Assets under administration stood at S$30.62 billion as of Sept. 30.
Sembcorp Industries share price: what to watch after Friday dip as Feb 25 results near

Sembcorp Industries share price: what to watch after Friday dip as Feb 25 results near

7 February 2026
Sembcorp shares closed at S$6.05 on Friday, down 0.33%, as Singapore’s STI dropped 0.8%. Shareholders approved the A$6.5 billion Alinta Energy takeover on Jan 30, but the deal still faces regulatory and closing conditions. Sembcorp will release FY2025 results on Feb 25 before market open. Trading volume reached about 4.3 million shares.
Go toTop