Latest news with #economicconditions
Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
PulteGroup Results Weaken as Housing Market Continues to Struggle
PulteGroup PHM -0.01%decrease; red down pointing triangle saw results weaken in its latest quarter as fewer homes were purchased, reflecting a housing market that continues to struggle under the weight of low consumer confidence and challenging economic conditions. The results—while ahead of Wall Street's estimates—come as consumers have been locked out by higher home prices and elevated mortgage rates. More recent uncertainty brought on by tariff-related news chilled demand further, though the broader economy has largely held up.
Japan Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Living conditions index hits lowest level in 15 years in Japan
The proportion of people in Japan who think their living conditions are more comfortable than a year before has fallen to the lowest level in over 15 years, according to a Bank of Japan quarterly survey for June. The diffusion index on living conditions, or the percentage of respondents who said their living conditions improved from a year before minus that of those who said the opposite stood at minus 57.2, the worst level since the September 2009 survey. The figure worsened from minus 52.0 in the previous March survey, according to the latest survey released Monday. The share of respondents who said they have become worse off came to 61.0%, up 5.1 percentage points from the previous survey. By contrast, the proportion of people who said they have become better off fell by 0.1 point to 3.8%. Among respondents becoming worse off, the proportion of those who cited rising prices as a reason behind the deterioration reached 93.7%. The survey also showed that the share of respondents who think that economic conditions worsened from a year before stood at 70.5%. Asked how much prices would increase in a year, respondents answered 12.8%, on average, up from 12.2% in the previous survey and hitting the highest level since comparable data became available in September 2006. The share of respondents who said prices rose in the country from a year before came to 96.1%, almost unchanged from the previous survey. The latest survey was conducted between May 1 and June 3, covering people age 20 or over across the country. The June survey was the first since the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles as well as some "reciprocal" tariffs. "We cannot say anything for sure" about the potential impact from the tariffs, a BOJ official said.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Undiscovered Gems in Middle East Stocks July 2025
In recent months, most Gulf markets have shown resilience by closing higher despite global trade tensions, with the Abu Dhabi index marking its sixth consecutive session of gains and Dubai's main index reaching a 17-year high. This positive momentum in the Middle East market sets an intriguing backdrop for identifying undiscovered gems—stocks that possess strong fundamentals and potential growth opportunities amidst evolving economic conditions. Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating Baazeem Trading 8.48% -2.02% -2.70% ★★★★★★ MOBI Industry 6.50% 5.60% 24.00% ★★★★★★ Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology 2.07% 16.18% 21.11% ★★★★★★ Sure Global Tech NA 11.95% 18.65% ★★★★★★ Najran Cement 14.20% -2.87% -22.60% ★★★★★★ Nofoth Food Products NA 15.75% 27.63% ★★★★★★ National General Insurance (P.J.S.C.) NA 14.55% 29.05% ★★★★★☆ Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication 10.29% 36.24% 62.32% ★★★★★☆ National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels 19.25% 0.67% 4.89% ★★★★☆☆ National Environmental Recycling 69.43% 43.47% 32.77% ★★★★☆☆ Click here to see the full list of 222 stocks from our Middle Eastern Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener. We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Riyadh Cement Company operates in the production and sale of cement across several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman with a market capitalization of SAR3.78 billion. Operations: The primary revenue stream for Riyadh Cement comes from its cement manufacturing segment, which generated SAR825.73 million. The company's financial performance is influenced by various factors impacting its net profit margin, a key indicator of profitability. Riyadh Cement, a noteworthy player in the Middle East's cement industry, is catching attention with its robust financial health and strategic moves. Recently, it reported Q1 2025 sales of SAR 225.23 million, up from SAR 188.89 million the previous year, alongside net income rising to SAR 75.68 million from SAR 70.1 million. The company boasts a debt-free status with earnings growth of 70% over the past year, outpacing the Basic Materials sector's average growth of nearly 50%. Additionally, it's trading at about 6% below its estimated fair value and maintains high-quality earnings without leverage concerns. Navigate through the intricacies of Riyadh Cement with our comprehensive health report here. Assess Riyadh Cement's past performance with our detailed historical performance reports. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Africa Israel Residences Ltd focuses on the development and sale of residential units in Israel under the Savyonim brand, with a market capitalization of ₪3.80 billion. Operations: Africa Israel Residences generates revenue primarily from the promotion of projects, amounting to ₪1.15 billion, and initiation of rental housing at ₪22.29 million. The company has a market capitalization of approximately ₪3.80 billion. Africa Israel Residences, a notable player in the real estate sector, has shown impressive growth with earnings surging 34.2% over the past year, outpacing its industry peers. Despite its high net debt to equity ratio of 67.1%, interest payments are well covered by EBIT at 3.9x coverage, indicating manageable financial obligations. The company experienced a significant one-off gain of ₪80 million in the last year, which might have skewed recent results but highlights potential for unexpected windfalls. Recent quarterly results showcased sales of ILS 246 million and net income rising to ILS 34 million from ILS 23 million previously. Get an in-depth perspective on Africa Israel Residences' performance by reading our health report here. Gain insights into Africa Israel Residences' historical performance by reviewing our past performance report. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★☆ Overview: Fox-Wizel Ltd. is involved in the design, purchasing, marketing, and distribution of a wide range of products including clothing, fashion accessories, underwear, footwear, home fashion items, and baby and children's products with a market cap of ₪4.99 billion. Operations: Fox-Wizel generates revenue primarily from its segments in Sports and Fashion and Home Fashion within Israel, with the Sports segment contributing ₪2.49 billion and the Fashion and Home Fashion - Israel segment adding ₪2.18 billion. The company's net profit margin is a key financial metric to consider when evaluating its profitability. Fox-Wizel, a modest player in the retail sector, shows mixed financial signals. Recent reports highlight sales of ILS 1.48 billion for Q1 2025, up from ILS 1.3 billion the previous year, yet net income fell to ILS 15.2 million from ILS 27.33 million. Earnings per share also dipped to ILS 1.09 from last year's ILS 1.97 for diluted shares, reflecting challenges despite revenue growth. The company's debt situation seems stable with a reduction in its debt-to-equity ratio from 85% to a more manageable 63%. Additionally, its interest payments are well-covered by EBIT at a multiple of nearly four times. Click here to discover the nuances of Fox-Wizel with our detailed analytical health report. Explore historical data to track Fox-Wizel's performance over time in our Past section. Dive into all 222 of the Middle Eastern Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals we have identified here. Have a stake in these businesses? Integrate your holdings into Simply Wall St's portfolio for notifications and detailed stock reports. Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include SASE:3092 TASE:AFRE and TASE:FOX. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ 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
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Gloom grows in UK boardrooms as bosses lament 'hostile' economy
Pessimism is deepening in boardrooms across the UK as bosses prepare for economic conditions at home and globally to worsen, a new report suggests. Around 70 per cent of boardroom leaders expect worldwide economic conditions to worsen in the year ahead, while just 5.4 per cent believe they will improve, according to a survey by The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland. By contrast, only 22.2 per cent in 2024 anticipated a deterioration in global economic conditions, and exactly double that percentage forecast them getting better. Nearly two-thirds of respondents also think the UK's economic circumstances will weaken further, compared to just a quarter asked the same question last year. CGI said executives are concerned UK competitiveness would not improve in the months ahead, due to factors like US trade tariffs and UK Government policy. President Donald Trump has slapped a 10 per cent baseline tariff on most US imports, as well as a 25 per cent import tax on car parts and a 50 per cent levy on foreign steel and aluminium. The tariffs have heightened anxieties about economic growth slowing, both in the UK and internationally, and inflationary pressures for consumers and businesses magnifying. Meanwhile, the proportion of boardroom leaders who said their firms plan on cutting capital expenditure over the next year rose to over a quarter, while none are forecasting a 'considerable' increase. 'The results remind us that boardroom decision-making has rarely been more challenging,' said the report. 'Organisations of every type are operating in a fluid, and often, hostile environment that (this year particularly) offers few certainties and elevated risk,' it added. The biggest concern for most boards is cybersecurity, with 71 per cent of governance professionals predicting cyber risks will grow this year. However, a smaller proportion of boards - 66 per cent - intend to raise spending on IT security, against 80 per cent in 2024/25. Among significant worry is regulation; most quoted governance professionals believe rules are 'slightly excessive'. Peter Swabey, policy and research director at CGI UK & Ireland, said: 'Governance professionals, always in tune with board sentiments, reveal a boardroom mood of caution and recalibration. 'While AI and cyber resilience are climbing the agenda, confidence in the UK's economic outlook and regulatory environment remains fragile. 'The Government's industrial strategy will need to address these concerns if it is to unlock long-term investment.' Having originally set to be announced this spring, Britain's industrial strategy is now set to be published in the last week of June. Defence, digital infrastructure, clean energy and advanced manufacturing comprised the top four priorities for the industrial strategy among the CGI survey's interviewees. The strategy is also set to include details on the creative, financial services, life sciences, and professional and business services sectors. CGI's survey was based on the full responses of 96 participants from organisations either based in or operating in the UK. Governance professionals in private businesses and members of quoted firms each comprised 35 per cent of the responses. The remaining 30 per cent were from representatives of the public sector, charities and other ownership structures.
Free Malaysia Today
17-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Raise stamp duty exemption threshold for job contracts, says FMM
FMM president Soh Thian Lai has urged the government to raise the stamp duty exemption threshold for employment contracts from the current RM300 to RM10,000. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) has called on the government to revise the Stamp Act 1949 to better reflect current economic conditions and industry standards. FMM president Soh Thian Lai urged the government to raise the stamp duty exemption threshold for employment contracts from the current RM300 to RM10,000. 'This aligns with today's salary levels and industry practices,' Soh said in a statement. He also called for a comprehensive review of how employment contracts and appointment letters are classified under the law, questioning their status as instruments subject to stamp duty. Under the First Schedule of the Stamp Act 1949, certain types of documents — including employment-related contracts — are subject to stamp duty, unless specifically exempted. Soh welcomed the government's recent decision to exempt stamp duty for employment contracts signed before Jan 1, 2025, and supported the waiver of penalties for non-compliance this year— provided contracts are stamped by Dec 31, 2025. He described the government's move to delay full enforcement until Jan 1, 2026 as 'a pragmatic decision' that allows businesses time to adjust. 'This transition period also gives the finance ministry time to update the regulations without applying them retroactively,' he said.
