An Hour AgoVietnam’s economy is in a ‘pretty good position’ this year, VinaCapital saysVietnam’s economy is in a “pretty good position” this year, according to VinaCapital chief investment officer Andy Ho. He anticipates growth between 6% and 7% this year, citing low interest rates, robust exports, and strong liquidity as key factors. Ho told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that there is a strong liquidity situation and increased readiness to invest domestically in capital assets, real estate, and the stock market, making 2024 a relatively good year for Vietnam. Despite his optimism, Ho cautioned about challenges in Vietnam’s real estate sector, emphasizing the need for quicker approval of development projects by the government and adequate capital support from the banking system for developers.— Charmaine Jacob7 Hours AgoJapan’s December jobless rate cools to lowest level since January 2023 College students arrive to attend the Mynavi Shushoku Mega Expo at the Tokyo Big Sight on March 8, 2015 in Tokyo.Chris McGrath | Getty ImagesJapan’s unemployment rate decreased in December, dropping to 2.4% from the previous month and marking the lowest level since January 2023. This was slightly below a Reuters poll forecast of 2.5%. Additionally, the job-to-applicant ratio was at 1.27 in December, the highest since June 2022, also lower than the forecast of 1.28 from Reuters.— Shreyashi Sanyal5 Hours AgoThis week is pivotal for the stock market’s rally, says Fundstrat’s Tom LeeTom Lee of Fundstrat Global Advisors believes that this crucial week, featuring Big Tech earnings and a Federal Reserve policy meeting, could determine the market’s next moves. Both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at new highs on Monday, largely driven by a surge in Big Tech shares. Lee stated that Microsoft and Alphabet are scheduled to report their quarterly results on Tuesday, while Meta Platforms, Apple, and Amazon are due on Thursday. Amidst these events, the Fed’s two-day policy meeting will conclude on Wednesday with a rate decision. For more details on Tom Lee’s outlook for this week, read here.-Darla Mercado7 Hours AgoHere’s where rates on popular consumer products stand before the Fed’s meetingThe Federal Reserve is set to begin its two-day meeting on Tuesday, culminating in a policy decision the following day. Current Fed funds futures pricing indicates a high likelihood that the central bank will maintain rates. However, rates on various consumer products have risen since the Fed commenced tightening rates in March 2022. For example, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage stood at 6.9% as of the week of Jan. 26, up from 4.29% in March 2022. Meanwhile, credit card annual percentage yields climbed to 20.74% as of the week of Jan. 26, over 400 basis points higher than before the rate hikes. Despite these increases, the higher rate environment has led to improved yields on savings products and fixed income investments.—Nick Wells, Darla Mercado7 Hours AgoWhere stocks stand on the monthWith just two full trading days remaining in January, all three major indexes are on track for gains, albeit some performing better than others. Here’s the current standing of the three major indexes compared to the beginning of January 2024:The Dow has risen by 1.7%.The S&P 500 has advanced by 3.3%.The Nasdaq Composite has outperformed, with a 4.1% increase.— Alex Harring8 Hours AgoStocks making the biggest moves in extended tradedFollowing trading hours, several stocks have experienced notable movements. For instance:Woodward — Shares surged 5% after the manufacturer exceeded analysts’ expectations and raised its full-year guidance.Sanmina — The manufacturer soared 15% after surpassing the consensus forecast for earnings per share and offering a stronger outlook for the current quarter compared to analysts’ expectations.Whirlpool — The home product maker dropped 4% following full-year guidance that fell short of Wall Street’s expectations. View the complete list here.— Alex Harring8 Hours AgoS&P 500 futures are little changedS&P 500 futures were relatively unchanged just after 6 p.m. ET. Nasdaq 100 futures were also largely flat, while Dow futures slipped about 0.1%.— Alex Harring
