News

Foreign investors bought 43.3 billion yen in Japanese bonds in the week ending October 23, compared with a revised figure of 1.4542 trillion yen in the previous week.

Japan purchased 288.1 billion yen worth of foreign stocks in the week ending October 23, compared with 128.3 billion yen in the previous week.

Japan's purchases of foreign bonds in the week ending October 23 were -¥92.6 billion, compared with a revised figure of -¥160.5 billion in the previous week (originally -¥161.6 billion).

Foreign investors bought 1,180.9 billion yen worth of Japanese stocks in the week ending October 23, compared with a revised figure of -67.5 billion yen in the previous week (originally -66.5 billion yen).

US President Trump: 25 years ago, I kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of the club because I thought he was a crazy, eccentric guy. I did the right thing. He never hung out with me. You know who he hung out with? His Democratic friends. He was a Democrat.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index opened 43.70 points higher, or 0.49%, at 8891 on Thursday, October 29.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25%, while the Federal Reserve held rates steady overnight.

Alphabet (GOOG.O) shares tumbled more than 10% in after-hours trading after the company reported disappointing third-quarter results. The move has hit Warren Buffett’s last major stock bet: Berkshire Hathaway bought heavily in 1H 2026 and participated in Alphabet’s roughly $85 bln equity offering in early June, acquiring about $10 bln of stock at roughly $350 a share, a purchase Buffett later said was his decision. Berkshire held 106 million Alphabet shares as of June 30; at after-hours prices the stake is worth about $30 bln, down from a roughly $37 bln peak in June. Alphabet is Berkshire’s fourth-largest equity holding after Apple, American Express and Coca‑Cola. Berkshire’s average cost per share is uncertain but likely above $300 and possibly near $320.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: Azure business growth is expected to be 49% to 50% in the second fiscal quarter at constant exchange rates.

Nasdaq futures fell nearly 1%, dragged down by after-hours declines in Google (GOOG.O) shares.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: We will seek additional funding channels when we deem the conditions appropriate.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: We expect capital expenditures to accelerate in the second half of the fiscal year, partly due to third-party production capacity deliveries that were originally scheduled for the first half of the year but were postponed to the second half.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: Positive cash flow is expected to continue in fiscal year 2027.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: Capital expenditures for this calendar year are expected to be approximately $170 billion.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: Second fiscal quarter revenue for the Devices & Consumer segment is expected to be between $15.9 billion and $16.4 billion. Revenue for Microsoft 365 Enterprise Cloud is projected to grow by approximately 19% at constant currency.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) shares rose as much as 6% in after-hours trading.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: Regarding commercial orders in the second fiscal quarter, we expect commercial sales momentum to remain robust, although results will be impacted by the significant Azure contracts signed in the previous year.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: Total revenue for the second fiscal quarter is expected to be between $96 billion and $97.1 billion, with capital expenditures exceeding $50 billion.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) CFO: Azure is expected to grow by 49% in the second fiscal quarter, and revenue from the "Intelligent Cloud & Infrastructure" business is expected to be between $80.1 billion and $80.7 billion in the second fiscal quarter.

US-Iran Conflict: 1. Data shows US spending on the Iran war has exceeded $47 billion. 2. Israeli media: US officials say subsequent strikes against Iran will not be affected by Israel's cabinet formation process. 3. Axios: Saudi Arabia requests Trump not to rush into war and to give more time for negotiations. 4. US media: Mediators push for nuclear facility inspections in exchange for easing sanctions; negotiations fail, US and Israel may target Iranian leadership. Peace Negotiations: 1. US media reports that Vance sent a letter to Iranian official Rezaei, attempting to restart peace negotiations. 2. US media: US-Iran negotiations and military preparations proceed in parallel; Gulf allies have conflicting accounts of whether they received notification of the action. 3. Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi: Iran says it remains willing to give diplomatic efforts a chance and strives to implement the "seven-day plan" within a week. 4. According to Al Arabiya TV: The mediators are consulting with Iran and plan to hold a meeting in Turkey before November 4; Iran is demanding that the seven-day deadline be shortened to four days. 5. When asked whether he had instructed Vance to help initiate negotiations with Iran, Trump replied no. He also told Vance, "If you want to do that, that's fine too." 6. Reports indicate that Qatar has proposed a new agreement to Iran to end the war; Iran states that Qatar has not yet proposed a new plan to end hostilities with the US; Israeli media reports that Iran may respond to Qatar's new proposal as early as Thursday. Other situations: 1. US Central Command: All shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are free of mines. 2. Iranian media: The US has warned Israel against holding another election. 3. The Israeli parliamentary elections have completed ballot counting, with Netanyahu's camp temporarily leading. 4. According to Israel Today: Trump, when asked about the possibility of contributing to the Israeli coalition government, said he would study the matter.