Chinese smartphone brands are seeing a rebound in volumes, but their cumulative revenue share is decreasing as iPhones and Samsung devices gain popularity in the premium segment. The market share of Chinese brands rose to 75% in the March quarter, bouncing back from a low of 61% in the July-September period. This growth is attributed to the shipment rebound by top brands such as Xiaomi and Vivo. However, their revenue share has fallen to 48% in Q1 CY24 from 70% in Q1 CY20, indicating the strengthening premiumisation trend.
Silver prices in the domestic market are at lifetime highs amid multiple catalysts like safe-haven demand due to escalating geopolitical tensions, hopes of US interest rate cuts, speculative buying, and a sharp rally in industrial metals. Historically, silver and gold, both considered precious metals, are often influenced by similar market conditions. Due to this similarity, both can exhibit similar price movements, with silver prices often following the trends of gold prices.
Dixon Technologies, an Indian electronics contract manufacturer, has emerged as India’s largest electronics contract manufacturer and is buying a majority stake in Ismartu India. The company has been consistently achieving Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) targets and is leading in mobile phone contract manufacturing. Indian consumer electronics manufacturers are also expanding exports to developed markets. Additionally, Chinese smartphone companies like Oppo, Vivo, and Realme are partnering with Dixon to benefit from the PLI scheme for phone manufacturing.
Asian shares retreated on Friday as hawkish comments from some Federal Reserve officials and escalating geopolitical tensions put a dent in risk sentiment, while traders were also cautious ahead of U.S. jobs data due later in the day. The threat of supply disruptions owing to a prolonged conflict in the Middle East kept Brent futures above $90 a barrel.
Oil prices remained largely unchanged as OPEC stuck to its demand growth forecasts and geopolitical tensions persisted. Brent futures and WTI crude registered marginal gains. China’s weakening demand countered the optimism. Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East heightened uncertainties. Traders took the attacks on energy facilities in Yemen and Russia in their stride. Concerns were eased by expectations of the delays not impacting oil prices in the long term.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is predicted to have a negative impact on the global economy by weakening it in 2024, according to chief economists.
A sweeping purge of Chinese generals has weakened the People’s Liberation Army, exposing deep-rooted corruption that could take more time to fix and slow Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s military modernization drive amid geopolitical tensions, analysts say.
Samvat 2079 has been a good year for small and mid cap stocks as equity markets navigated the highs and lows of interest rate uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. The smallcap indexes have surged over 30% during this period, compared with 9% gain in benchmark Sensex.
Indian equities weakened as uncertainty due to the Israel-Hamas conflict led to a flight of money to safe-haven assets like gold and the US dollar. The surge in oil prices caused by geopolitical tensions further dampened investor sentiment.
