Latest news with #ServicesPMI


India Gazette
8 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
India's services PMI growth continued in May; employment hits record high: HSBC PMI
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): India's services sector continued to expand but at a slower phase in May 2025, with the Services PMI rising marginally to 58.8 from April's 58.7, according to the HSBC India Services PMI report released on Wednesday. The index, which is based on a monthly survey of around 400 service companies, signals expansion when the reading is above 50 and contraction when it is below that mark. It said 'Registering 58.8 in May, the seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index, based on a single question asking how the level of business activity compares with the situation the month before, was broadly in line April's reading of 58.7 and therefore signaled another sharp rate of expansion'. The latest data showed that India's services activity remained broadly steady, with business growth supported by strong demand, new client wins, and higher staffing capacity. According to the report, the services sector maintained the sharp pace of growth seen over the past three months, reflecting the sector's resilience and ongoing economic momentum. One of the standout findings of the report was the sharp rise in international demand. In fact, survey participants reported one of the strongest improvements in export orders in the entire 19-and-a-half-year history of the PMI survey. The pace of new export business growth recorded in May was only surpassed once before, in June 2024. Firms cited strong demand from key global markets such as Asia, Europe, and North America as drivers of this performance. New orders, both domestic and international, continued to rise sharply. Companies attributed the increase to strong advertising efforts, repeat orders from existing clients, and the overall strength in demand. This consistent rise in sales led many businesses to expand their workforce. As a result, employment growth in the services sector reached a new record in May, as firms boosted staffing to meet rising workloads. HSBC said 'Ongoing improvements in demand for Indian goods and services led to survey-record increases in jobs across the two sectors. Hence, aggregate employment expanded at an unprecedented pace'. Business confidence also showed signs of recovery after dipping to a 23-month low in April. The report noted that improved sentiment stemmed from expectations of better staffing, an expanding client base, and marketing efforts that are likely to support further growth in the year ahead. Overall, the May Services PMI report highlights the continued strength of India's services economy, with steady output growth, record hiring, and improving global demand provides a positive outlook for the months to come. (ANI)


Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gold price prediction: What's the gold rate outlook for June 2, 2025 week - should you buy or sell?
Geo-political tensions are once again on the rise and comments from Trump administration on EU and China are also keeping market participants on edge. (AI image) Gold price prediction today: Investors face uncertainty regarding their gold investment decisions due to multiple factors affecting market sentiment. The ongoing geopolitical conflicts, coupled with evolving US-China trade negotiations, have created ambiguity in the precious metals market. What is the gold rate prediction for this week and what should investors do? Manav Modi, Senior Analyst, Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial services Ltd shares his outlook on gold prices: Gold prices slipped from a two-week high after US President Donald Trump postponed the implementation of 50% tariffs on EU imports to July 9, easing immediate trade tensions and reducing safe-haven demand. This delay came after the EU requested more time for negotiations, leading to a temporary pullback in bullion prices. However, geopolitical risks continued to support underlying demand, with Russia launching the largest aerial assault of the war on Ukraine and Israel intensifying military strikes in Gaza. Meanwhile, gold remained under pressure from a stronger US dollar, as the dollar index hovered near the 100 mark amid rising US bond yields and mixed economic data. A US trade court initially blocked Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, only for a federal appeals court to reinstate them a day later, injecting uncertainty into markets. On the economic front, US consumer confidence came in stronger than expected at just under 100, compared to a forecast of 87.1, while core durable goods orders rose 0.2% against expectations of a 0.1% decline. However, preliminary US GDP remained in negative territory, reinforcing concerns about slowing growth. The April PCE Price Index rose 2.1% year-on-year, slightly below the 2.2% estimate, suggesting softening inflation pressures. Weekly jobless claims exceeded expectations, adding to mixed economic signals. Minutes from the Fed's May meeting revealed growing concern about the dual risk of rising inflation and unemployment, with policymakers indicating that rate cuts remain possible later this year but are not imminent. Geo-political tensions are once again on the rise and comments from President Trump's administration on EU and China are also keeping market participants on edge. Focus this week will be on US Jobs market data, manufacturing and Services PMI from major economies and Governor Powell's speech. RBI and ECB monetary policy statements will also be in radar this week. Gold Trading Strategy: Buy on Dips; Support: 94500-93500; Resistance 96500-97500 Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now


Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
3 Economic Events That Could Affect Your Portfolio This Week, June 2-6, 2025
Here are three key economic events that could affect your portfolio this week. For a full listing of additional economic reports, check out the TipRanks Economic Calendar. Confident Investing Starts Here: » May's S&P Global Manufacturing PMI – Monday, 06/2 – This report measures business activity in the manufacturing sector, a critical component of U.S. GDP. As a leading economic indicator, this index provides timely insight into current and future economic conditions. Investors closely monitor this data for signs of strength or weakness in industrial output, which can influence corporate earnings, inflation trends, and Fed policy expectations. » May's S&P Global Services PMI – Wednesday, 06/4 – This report gauges activity in the services sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the U.S. economy. This index is closely watched as a bellwether of broader economic momentum. Because it reflects both consumer and business sentiment, movements in the Services PMI often precede shifts in overall economic performance. » May's Nonfarm Payrolls and Unemployment Rate – Friday, 06/06 – The Nonfarm Payrolls and Unemployment reports present the number of new jobs created during the previous month, along with the percentage of people actively seeking employment in the previous month. These reports are two of the most important economic indicators, as the shift in the number of positions since it is strongly associated with the overall health of the economy. One of the Federal Reserve's mandates is full employment, and it considers labor market changes when determining its policy decisions.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buy 5 Business Services Stocks to Boost Your Portfolio Stability
The business services industry is a major beneficiary of service activities. Economic activity in the services sector expanded for the 10th consecutive month in April, with the Services PMI measured by the Institute for Supply Management remaining robust, staying above the 50% threshold for the 56th time in 59 months, indicating sustained expansion since the post-pandemic recovery. The rapid advancement and adoption of artificial intelligence and automation technologies are reshaping how business services are delivered. While these innovations promise enhanced efficiency, cost reduction, and faster turnaround times, they also pose challenges such as workforce displacement and the need for constant upskilling. Companies that effectively integrate AI while managing the human impact will likely lead the future of the industry. The industry is mature, with demand for services remaining stable for some time now. Revenues, income, and cash flows are now above pre-pandemic levels. The Zacks-defined Business Services industry is currently in the top 19% of the Zacks Sector Rank. Since the business services industry is ranked in the top half of the Zacks Ranked Industries, we expect it to outperform the market over the next three to six months. Here we recommend five business services stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank for investment. These stocks are: Cintas Corp. CTAS, Thomson Reuters Corp. TRI, Healthcare Services Group Inc. HCSG, ZipRecruiter Inc. ZIP and Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. BFAM. Each of our picks currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks in the past month. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Cintas is well-positioned to benefit from the solid momentum across its segments. Penetration of additional products and services into existing customers is aiding the Uniform Rental and Facility Services segment. Improved demand for AED Rentals and WaterBreak products is driving the First Aid and Safety Services segment. CTAS' investments in technology and automation hold promise. The successive acquisitions of Paris Uniform and SITEX sparked optimism in the stock. Also, handsome rewards to its shareholders add to CTAS' appeal. CTAS has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 7% and 10.8%, respectively, for the next year (ending May 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for next-year earnings has improved 1.7% in the past 60 days. Thomson Reuters operates as a content and technology company in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. TRI operates through five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax and Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. TRI is a leading provider of value-added information and technology to users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. TRI has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 3.1% and 4.2%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 1.3% in the past 30 days. Healthcare Services Group provides management, administrative, and operating services to the housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance, and dietary service departments of nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals in the United States. HCSG operates through two segments, Housekeeping and Dietary. HCSG has the experience and expertise to meet these needs, making it the preferred choice for hospital and senior living clients nationwide. HCSG also provides professional management of ancillary services to a diverse mix of satisfied clients. HCSG has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 5.1% and 58.5%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 5% in the past seven days. ZipRecruiter operates an online marketplace that connects job seekers and employers in the United States and internationally. ZIP's two-sided marketplace enables employers to post jobs and access other features, as well as job seekers that apply to jobs with a single click. ZIP offers recruiting, hiring, job boards, posting, web application, candidate screening, applicant tracking and job alerts services. ZIP has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 9% and 13%, respectively, for the next year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for next-year earnings has improved 3.8% in the past 30 days. Bright Horizons Family Solutions is engaged in providing employer-sponsored child care, early education and work/life solutions. BFAM operates primarily in North America, Europe and India. BFAM's employer-sponsored child care programs include child care and early education centers, infant/toddler/preschool care and education, full and part-time child care, kindergarten, school-age programs, summer camps and back-up care. Bright Horizons manages child care centers for corporations, hospitals, universities and government agencies. BFAM has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 7.6% and 18.4%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 24.6% in the past 30 days. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Cintas Corporation (CTAS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Thomson Reuters Corp (TRI) : Free Stock Analysis Report ZipRecruiter, Inc. (ZIP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (BFAM) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights AppLovin, Qifu Technology and Priority Technology
Chicago, IL – May 19, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses AppLovin Corp. APP, Qifu Technology QFIN and Priority Technology Holdings PRTH. Link: The Technology Services space has registered strong growth post-pandemic, led by the swift adoption of remote work, augmenting the global digital transition. Technological advancements like 5G, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) have expanded the industry. Furthermore, the industry's growth has raised concerns about data security. AppLovin Corp., Qifu Technology and Priority Technology Holdings are on the path to take advantage of the prevailing trends. The Zacks Technology Services industry encompasses companies producing, developing and designing various software support, data processing, computing hardware, and communications equipment. These offerings range from integrated powertrain technologies, advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to semiconductor packaging and interconnect technologies, collaboration software, specialty printers, and data acquisition and analysis systems. This industry caters to consumer and business markets, and serves diverse end markets and customer segments. Furthermore, some industry players offer advanced analytics, clinical research services, data storage technology and solutions, and technology-enabled financial services for consumers and small business owners. The industry is mature, with the demand for services remaining healthy over time. Revenues, income and cash flows are slowly recovering to the pre-pandemic levels, aiding most industry players to pay out stable dividends. The sector is a major beneficiary of the broader economy and service activities. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.8% in 2024 compared with 2.5% growth in 2023. Economic activities in the non-manufacturing sector are on a good trajectory. The Services PMI measured by the Institute for Supply Managementhas stayed above the 50% mark in 56 out of 59 months. The global shift toward digitization provides opportunities in various markets, including 5G, blockchain and AI. The United States, a vital player in the IT sector, is positioned for growth in the widespread adoption of smart technologies and a surge in investments in security. Companies incorporate generative AI, ML, blockchain and data science faster to gain a competitive edge. According to Bloomberg, the worldwide generative AI is expected to grow, witnessing a 42% CAGR over the next 10 years, and become a $1.3-trillion market by 2032. The Zacks Technology Services industry, which is housed within the broader Zacks Business Services sector, carries a Zacks Industry Rank #49 at present. This rank places it in the top 20% of more than 246 Zacks industries. The group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates continued outperformance in the near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one. Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let us look at the industry's recent stock market performance and current valuation. The Zacks Technology Services industry has outperformed the broader Zacks Business Services sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year. The industry has returned 42.1% over this period compared with the 12% rise of the broader sector and the 12.4% rally of the Zacks S&P 500 Composite. On the basis of EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization), which is used for valuing staffing stocks because of their high debt levels, the industry is trading at 31.02X at present compared with the S&P 500's 16.6X and the sector's 12.03. Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 40.7X and as low as 22.13X, with the median being 29.86X. Here, we have recommended three high-potential technology services stocks anticipated to gain from a flourishing market. AppLovin: This company engages in building a software-based platform for advertisers to improve the marketing and monetization of their content in the United States and across the globe. The company is rigorously enhancing its machine-learning models and leveraging AI to deliver greater value to its partners, ensuring that its platform demonstrates exceptional performance. APP is advancing its e-commerce and web advertising solutions by improving integrations with third-party platforms and vendors to provide advertisers with a smooth experience. APP is prioritizing improving the creative experience by allowing advertisers to optimize campaigns with ease. We expect these initiatives to bear fruit for the company in the long run, positioning it for sustained success. AppLovin's technological innovators have significantly augmented the gaming ecosystem, breathing life into an industry that would otherwise be facing difficulties without the company's advancements over the past two years. Carrying this confidence, the company is expanding its reach into new sectors, trying to replicate the improvement it achieved within the gaming industry in these new domains. APP flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2025 bottom line has increased 22% in the past 60 days. Earnings are expected to rise 85.2% year over year in 2025. APP shares have skyrocketed 340.5% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Priority Technology: This company operates a platform that combines payables, merchant services and banking solutions to streamline financial operations. In the first quarter of 2025, PRTH registered strong growth in its top and bottom lines despite the economic turbulence over the impacts of tariffs and government cuts. An optimistic performance in unfavorable macroeconomic conditions positions the company to benefit in the long run when the economic conditions improve. Priority Technology is witnessing robust enrollment trends and a surge in the number of billed clients in CFTPay, coupled with an increase in the number of integrated partners and organic sales growth across same-store with those partners. PRTH sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2025 bottom line has increased 1.9% in the past 60 days. Earnings are expected to rise more than 100% year over year in 2025. PRTH shares have upsurged 116.8% in the past year. Qifu Technology: This leading China-based credit tech is riding on higher total loan facilitation and origination volume on its platform. QFIN is improving user acquisition efficiency by diversifying acquisition channels and lowering its average acquisition cost per credit line user. Qifu Technology's initiative to integrate AI in improving credit data analysis and strategy to optimize its loan portfolio is enhancing its asset quality. Apart from this, the company is leveraging AI copilot models in loan collection and telemarketing to automate the development of marketing materials. QFIN's AI-Plus strategy is gaining strong traction among its financial institution partners, which will become vital to its technology solutions business. Moving to the macroeconomic environment, China's special action plan aimed at boosting consumption is expected to facilitate higher demand for loan products. Banking on AI and favorable macros, QFIN's vision to grow will become clearer in the long run. QFIN flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings per share has increased 8.3% in the past 60 days. Earnings are expected to rise 22.4% year over year in 2025. QFIN shares have skyrocketed 113.7% in the past year. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Join us on Facebook: Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AppLovin Corporation (APP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Qifu Technology, Inc. (QFIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. (PRTH) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data