Latest news with #BananaRepublic
4 hours ago
- Business
Asian shares slide as Russia-Ukraine conflict, OPEC+ output plan push oil prices higher
HONG KONG -- Asian shares sank on Monday and oil prices jumped as trade tensions and the Russian-Ukraine conflict ratcheted up geopolitical uncertainty. Hong Kong's Hang Seng plunged more than 2% as Beijing and Washington traded harsh words over trade. U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that he will double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50% layered on still more worries for investors. A report over the weekend that China's factory activity contracted in May, although the decline slowed from April as the country reached a deal with the U.S. to slash President Donald Trump's sky-high tariffs, further undermined market sentiment. Markets in mainland China were closed for a holiday. Oil prices rallied after OPEC+ decided on a modest increase in output beginning in July. It was the third monthly increase in a row. U.S. benchmark crude oil gained $1.60 to $62.39 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, was up $1.41 at $64.19 per barrel. Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul and a Ukrainian drone attack destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia's territory, Ukraine's Security Service said on Sunday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 2.2% to 22,778.45 as China and the U.S. accused each other of breaching their tariff agreement reached in Geneva last month. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 lost 1.6% to 37,356.97, while the Kospi in Seoul fell 0.4% to 2,686.17. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 retreated 0.2% to 8,416.00. On Friday, Wall Street closed its best month since 2023. The S&P 500 retreated less than 0.1% to end at 5,911.69 and the Dow industrials Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher to 42,270.07. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.3% to 19,113.77. Gap weighed on the market even though the retailer reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company behind Banana Republic and Old Navy fell 20.2% after saying tariffs on imports from China and other countries could add up to $300 million to its costs this fiscal year. It has strategies set to mitigate up to half of that before it hits its profits. Hopes had largely been rising that the worst of such worries had passed, which in turn sent stocks rallying, after Trump paused his tariffs on both China and the European Union. A U.S. court then on Wednesday blocked many of Trump's sweeping tariffs. That all sent the S&P 500 in May to its first winning month in four and its best since November. But the tariffs remain in place while the White House appeals the ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, and the ultimate outcome is still uncertain. Friday's most influential losses came from several Big Tech stocks. Nvidia fell 2.9% to give back some of its gain from earlier in the week after it topped analysts' expectations for profit in the latest quarter. It was the single heaviest weight by far on the S&P 500. On the winning side of Wall Street was Ulta Beauty, which rose 11.8% after the retailer reported stronger sales and profit than analysts forecast. It also raised the top end of its forecasted range for revenue this fiscal year even though CEO Kecia Steelman called the operating environment 'fluid.' Costco climbed 3.1% after the retailer's results and revenue for the latest quarter edged past analysts' expectations. In the bond market, Treasury yields eased after a report showed that the measure of inflation that the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower in April than economists expected. A separate report from the University of Michigan said that sentiment among U.S. consumers was better in May than economists expected. Sentiment improved in the back half of the month after Trump paused many of his tariffs on China. In currency trading early Monday, the U.S. dollar fell to 143.55 Japanese yen from 143.87 yen. The euro inched up to $1.1364 from $1.1351.
The Age
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
ASX set to edge up, Wall Street treads water
Wall Street closed its winning week and month with a quiet Friday following a mixed set of profit reports from Gap, Ulta Beauty and other companies navigating the challenges created by US President Donald Trump's on-and-off tariffs. The S&P 500 finished the day nearly unchanged after edging down by less than 0.1 per cent. The Dow Jones added 54 points, or 0.1 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3 per cent. The Australian sharemarket is set to edge higher, with futures on Saturday pointing to a gain of 8 points, or 0.1 per cent, at the open. Gap weighed on the market even though the retailer reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company behind Banana Republic and Old Navy fell 20.2 per cent after saying tariffs on imports from China and other countries could add up to $US300 million ($466 million) to its costs this fiscal year. It has strategies set to mitigate up to half of that before it hits its profits. This week and month on Wall Street have been dominated by questions about what will happen with Trump's tariffs, which investors worry could grind the economy into a recession, slash companies' profits and layer even more challenges on households already sick of inflation. Loading Hopes had largely been rising that the worst of such worries had passed, which in turn sent stocks rallying, after Trump paused his tariffs on both China and the European Union. A US court then on Wednesday blocked many of Trump's sweeping tariffs. It all sent the S&P 500 in May to its first winning month in four and its best since November. But the tariffs remain in place for now while the White House appeals the ruling by the US Court of International Trade, and the ultimate outcome is still uncertain. Trump also briefly shook markets shortly before Wall Street opened for trading Friday, when he accused China of not living up to its end of the agreement that paused their tariffs against each other.
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
ASX set to edge up, Wall Street treads water
Wall Street closed its winning week and month with a quiet Friday following a mixed set of profit reports from Gap, Ulta Beauty and other companies navigating the challenges created by US President Donald Trump's on-and-off tariffs. The S&P 500 finished the day nearly unchanged after edging down by less than 0.1 per cent. The Dow Jones added 54 points, or 0.1 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3 per cent. The Australian sharemarket is set to edge higher, with futures on Saturday pointing to a gain of 8 points, or 0.1 per cent, at the open. Gap weighed on the market even though the retailer reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company behind Banana Republic and Old Navy fell 20.2 per cent after saying tariffs on imports from China and other countries could add up to $US300 million ($466 million) to its costs this fiscal year. It has strategies set to mitigate up to half of that before it hits its profits. This week and month on Wall Street have been dominated by questions about what will happen with Trump's tariffs, which investors worry could grind the economy into a recession, slash companies' profits and layer even more challenges on households already sick of inflation. Loading Hopes had largely been rising that the worst of such worries had passed, which in turn sent stocks rallying, after Trump paused his tariffs on both China and the European Union. A US court then on Wednesday blocked many of Trump's sweeping tariffs. It all sent the S&P 500 in May to its first winning month in four and its best since November. But the tariffs remain in place for now while the White House appeals the ruling by the US Court of International Trade, and the ultimate outcome is still uncertain. Trump also briefly shook markets shortly before Wall Street opened for trading Friday, when he accused China of not living up to its end of the agreement that paused their tariffs against each other.
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Gap shares slide as tariffs loom large over apparel maker's turnaround plans
Gap shares fell 20% in early trading on Friday after the Old Navy owner warned that U.S. tariffs would squeeze this year's profit, even as the apparel maker aims to soften the blow by diversifying its supply chain and investing in U.S. cotton. The company reaffirmed its annual forecasts that did not include tariff-related costs but flagged expenses of up to $300 million, which analysts said would weigh on Gap's margins through the second half of the year and into 2026. Shares of the company, which owns brands such as Banana Republic and ON, were trading at $22.44. The stock has surged 30% so far this month, as investors focused on the firm's efforts to improve product innovation and store operations. At least three brokerages trimmed price targets on the stock, with Jefferies cutting it by the most, to $26 from $29. "Banana Republic and Athleta likely need much reinvestment to drive consistent positive comparable sales and margin expansion, in our view," UBS analyst Jay Sole said. President Donald Trump 's trade policy has threatened to upend supply chains and push up prices for everyday essentials. Some retailers including Best Buy have accounted for the tariffs and a few others have pulled their forecasts. However, firms like Gap have excluded the impact from their outlook, citing an ever evolving trade policy. Under the leadership of Richard Dickson, who took helm in 2023, Gap laid out plans to double the use of America-grown cotton by 2026, with executives on a post-earnings call saying that investing in the U.S., its biggest market, remains a key priority. It has been diversifying its supplier footprint for several years, and currently has a less than 10% exposure to China. The region was one of its top manufacturing hubs, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia. It aims for no country to account for more than 25% by the end of 2026. The company topped Wall Street estimates first-quarter sales and profit helped by full-price selling in its namesake and Old Navy brands. Gap's forward price-to-earnings multiple (P/E), a common benchmark for valuing stocks, is 11.69, compared to a P/E ratio of 7.99 for Abercrombie & Fitch and 10.02 for American Eagle Outfitters, according to LSEG.
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Gap shares slide as tariffs loom large over apparel maker's turnaround plans
Gap shares fell 20% in early trading on Friday after the Old Navy owner warned that U.S. tariffs would squeeze this year's profit, even as the apparel maker aims to soften the blow by diversifying its supply chain and investing in U.S. cotton. The company reaffirmed its annual forecasts that did not include tariff-related costs but flagged expenses of up to $300 million, which analysts said would weigh on Gap's margins through the second half of the year and into 2026. Shares of the company, which owns brands such as Banana Republic and ON, were trading at $22.44. The stock has surged 30% so far this month, as investors focused on the firm's efforts to improve product innovation and store operations. At least three brokerages trimmed price targets on the stock, with Jefferies cutting it by the most, to $26 from $29. "Banana Republic and Athleta likely need much reinvestment to drive consistent positive comparable sales and margin expansion, in our view," UBS analyst Jay Sole said. President Donald Trump 's trade policy has threatened to upend supply chains and push up prices for everyday essentials. Some retailers including Best Buy have accounted for the tariffs and a few others have pulled their forecasts. However, firms like Gap have excluded the impact from their outlook, citing an ever evolving trade policy. Under the leadership of Richard Dickson, who took helm in 2023, Gap laid out plans to double the use of America-grown cotton by 2026, with executives on a post-earnings call saying that investing in the U.S., its biggest market, remains a key priority. It has been diversifying its supplier footprint for several years, and currently has a less than 10% exposure to China. The region was one of its top manufacturing hubs, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia. It aims for no country to account for more than 25% by the end of 2026. The company topped Wall Street estimates first-quarter sales and profit helped by full-price selling in its namesake and Old Navy brands. Gap's forward price-to-earnings multiple (P/E), a common benchmark for valuing stocks, is 11.69, compared to a P/E ratio of 7.99 for Abercrombie & Fitch and 10.02 for American Eagle Outfitters, according to LSEG.
