SEOUL (AFP) – Samsung Electronics expects operating profits for the fourth quarter to soar 52.5 per cent, the South Korean tech giant said in a statement yesterday, spurred by record sales.
The world’s biggest smartphone maker forecast 2021 fourth-quarter operating profits at around KRW13.8 trillion (USD11.5 billion), up from KRW9.05 trillion in the same quarter last year.
The firm was boosted by record sales in the quarter, estimated at KRW76 trillion, up 23.5 per cent on-year, according to the statement, which added that the forecast reflected a one-time bonus payment to employees.
A spokeswoman told AFP annual sales in 2021 were also expected to be the highest ever.
The operating profit estimate was below analysts’ estimate of KRW15.2 trillion, according to Bloomberg News.
“A continued price growth in memory chips that ran three consecutive quarters until October last year has boosted Samsung’s profit margins,” said Park Sung-soon, an analyst at Cape Investment & Securities.
“The most significant source of income for Samsung lies in the memory chip business.”
Samsung Electronics did not provide details yesterday on the performance of its various divisions. The firm is expected to release its full results on January 27.
Samsung’s flagship mobile phone store on Nanjing Road pedestrian Street in Shanghai, China. PHOTO: AFP
Analysts and investors are also keeping an eye on the impact of the citywide Covid lockdown in Xi’an, China, which is home to a Samsung semiconductor plant.
Samsung said last week that it had to “temporarily adjust operations” at the Xi’an facilities, without detailing how that would impact production.
While the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world economy, it has helped many tech companies boom.
Pandemic-driven working from home has boosted demand for devices powered by Samsung’s chips, as well as home appliances such as televisions and washing machines.
Analysts had also expected the firm to benefit from the traditionally lucrative holiday season.
The world’s biggest memory chip maker, Samsung Electronics has aggressively stepped up investment in its semiconductor business as the world battles chip shortages that have hit everything from cars and home appliances to smartphones and gaming consoles.
In November, it announced a new microchip factory in Texas, a USD17 billion investment. The plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2024.
It joined rivals TSMC and US firm Intel in expanding chip manufacturing capacity in the United States, which sees the sector as an area of strategic competition with China.
The firm is also investing in the development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and 5G/6G communications.
Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung group, by far the largest of the family-controlled empires known as chaebols that dominate business in South Korea.
The conglomerate’s overall turnover is equivalent to around one-fifth of South Korea’s gross domestic product.
AP – Chris Paul had a triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to help the short-handed Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 106-89 on Thursday night.
The Suns became the first team in the NBA to win 30 games this season and moved a game ahead of Golden State for the best record in the NBA.
They’ve won three straight and four of five.
Cam Johnson added a career-high 24 points, and Jalen Smith – the second-year forward whose playing time has drastically increased recently because of the Suns’ COVID-19 issues – had another good game with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
The 36-year-old Paul had his 17th career triple double. The 13 rebounds were a career high in his 1,128th regular-season NBA game.
Devin Booker shot just five of 22 from the field and finished with 11 points. He was 0 of 7 on three-pointers.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker shoots. PHOTO: AP
Suns coach Monty Williams said centre Deandre Ayton, forward Jae Crowder and JaVale McGee have all cleared the league’s COVID-19 protocols, but were held out of the game as they work their way back into shape. Guard Landry Shamet is still in the protocol.
The Clippers dropped below .500 with the loss at 19-20 despite a season-high 26 points from former Suns forward Marcus Morris Sr Reggie Jackson added 16.
The Clippers were missing guards Luke Kennard and Xavier Moon, along with centre Ivica Zubac, because of COVID-19 protocols.
KNICKS 108, CELTICS 105
RJ Barrett banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift New York past Boston.
Evan Fournier scored a career-high 41 points, and the Knicks overcame a 24-point, second-quarter deficit. The teams will finish the home-and-home set tonight in Boston.
Jayson Tatum scored 36 points for Boston. He tied it on a long step-back jumper with just over a second to play. The Knicks inbounded after a timeout, and Barrett banked in the long-distance shot for the victory.
Julius Randle added 22 points for New York, Immanuel Quickley had 16, and Barrett 13. The Knicks didn’t lead until there were just over two minutes left.
Dennis Schroder added 20 points for Boston, and Jaylen Brown had 16.
PELICANS 101, WARRIORS 96
Brandon Ingram broke out of a shooting slump with 32 points and New Orleans beat depleted Golden State to snap a three-game skid.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry was ruled out after hurting his left quad during a loss a night earlier in Dallas. Draymond Green was out with a sore hip.
Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points for Golden State.
GRIZZLIES 118, PISTONS 88
Ja Morant had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Memphis built an early lead and coasted past Detroit for its seventh straight victory.
Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points, and Tyus Jones and rookie Ziaire Williams added 14 points apiece for Memphis, a season high for Williams.
Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) handed over financial assistance amounting to BND39,700 to several recipients in a ceremony held at Yayasan Headquarters in Jalan Menteri Besar yesterday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin as member of Board of Directors for Yayasan and Chairman of the Yayasan Assistance Review Committee presented the donations.
Yayasan contributed financial assistance of BND15,000 to Brunei History Association (PESEBAR) to publish Buku Kesultanan Brunei: Dari Pelbagai Perspektif. PESEBAR President Dr Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong received the donation.
Youth Da’ie Volunteer Body under the Youth Religious Programme Secretariat of the Islamic Da’wah Centre received BND14,700 to help fund the Da’ie Empowerment Programme. Youth Da’ie Deputy Chairperson Siti Hurul-Ain Diyana binti Haji Abdul Majid @ Vienna received the contribution.
Yayasan also contributed financial assistance of BND10,000 to two families whose house collapsed at Kampong Pandai Besi ‘A’ on December 25 last year.
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin presents contributions to Brunei History Centre President Dr Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong; and Youth Da’ie Deputy Chairperson Siti Hurul-Ain Diyana binti Haji Abdul Majid @ Vienna. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presents donations to representatives of two families
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Investigators are looking into whether a five-year-old who was playing with a lighter set a tree on fire, sparking a conflagration that killed 12 family members in a Philadelphia rowhome, officials revealed on Thursday.
That disclosure was included in a search warrant application as city and federal investigators sought to determine the cause of the blaze, the city’s deadliest in more than a century, which took the lives of three sisters and several of their children early Wednesday.
Spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner Jane Roh confirmed the contents of the search warrant, which was first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Fire officials provided few details at an afternoon news briefing, declining to say how many people escaped the blaze or speculate on a possible cause, adding the fire scene was complex. Officials also did not say where the fire began, calling it part of the investigation.
“I know that we will hopefully be able to provide a specific origin and cause to this fire and to provide some answers to the loved ones and, really, to the city,” said Matthew Varisco, who leads the Philadelphia branch of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Family members gather by the Bache-Martin School for a vigil to honour the victims of a rowhouse fire in Philadelphia. PHOTO: AP
ATF specialists and other investigators took photos and combed through the charred, three-storey brick duplex owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the city’s public housing agency and the state’s biggest landlord.
In a statement at a Thursday night vigil, relatives said the matriarch of their family had lost three daughters and nine grandchildren in the blaze. The daughters were identified as Rosalee McDonald, Virginia Thomas and Quinsha White.
There were two survivors, the family said. Temple University Hospital said one was in
stable condition.
THE WASHINGTON POST – this recipe checks all the boxes for the kind of food I want to usher me into the new year. It’s healthful and comforting (yes, it’s possible to have both!) and it’s convenient – easy to pull together, make ahead and reheat.
It’s a better-for-you spin on a familiar favourite, baked ziti, made with whole-grain pasta (although regular pasta would be fine if you prefer it), packed with vegetables – sautéed mushrooms, broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes – and made cheesy and creamy with a more healthful than usual balance of part-skim ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan.
Baked until bubbly inside and melty and golden on top, it’s the kind of dish that’s like a cozy spot in the sun on a cold day.
This recipe makes eight to 10 servings, so it is an easy cook-once-eat-twice situation for most families.
When I’m just cooking for my husband and myself, rather than baking it all at once in a nine-by-13-inch pan, I divide the batch into two eight-by-eight-inch baking dishes and place one, tightly covered, in the freezer to double the dinner-at-the-ready payoff.
It’s an easy win to start 2022.
Three Cheese Pasta and Vegetable Bake. PHOTO: THE WASHINGTON POST
THREE CHEESE PASTA AND VEGETABLE BAKE
Active time: 35 mins | Total time: 1 hour 15 mins
8-10 servings
Storage Notes: Refrigerate for up to four days, or cover tightly and freeze for up to three months.
INGREDIENTS
– One pound whole grain or regular penne pasta, or other tube shaped pasta
– Two tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing the pan
– One pound baby bella (cremini) mushrooms, sliced
– Six cloves garlic, thinly sliced
– One bag frozen broccoli, defrosted (may substitute with five cups blanched fresh chopped broccoli)
– Seven sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes, drained and thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
– One teaspoon dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
– 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
– One container part-skim ricotta cheese
– Four cups marinara sauce
– One cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
– 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for two minutes less than suggested in the package directions. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
Meanwhile, position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Brush a nine-by-13-inch ovenproof dish with oil.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering.
Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until their liquid evaporates and they begin to brown, about eight minutes.
Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, two minutes more.
Add the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Add the vegetables to the drained pasta in the pot, along with the ricotta and marinara, and stir to combine well.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and evenly spread it out.
Sprinkle the top with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and cover the dish loosely with foil.
Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) – The news last February that defending Chinese Super League (SL) champion Jiangsu FC was ceasing operations set the tone for a depressing year for football in the world’s most populous country.
It wasn’t a memorable campaign as China Daily, an English-language publication wrote on December 29.
“Shandong Taishan savoured winning its fifth Chinese Super League title over the weekend, however the news barely caused a stir on social media amid dwindling interest in the financially stricken domestic game,” the paper explained.
The spending spree on famous foreign stars that started in 2011 and reached a peak of over USD400 million in the winter of 2016-17 when Chinese Super League clubs collectively spent more than any other in the world, has well and truly ended.
Instead of South American and European internationals, clubs are left with debts and uncertain futures.
Brazilian striker Alex Teixeira poses for photos upon his arrival in China in 2016. PHOTO: AP
On February 28, retail giant Suning, which also owns a majority stake in Inter Milan, pulled the plug just three months after Jiangsu won its first championship.
“Even though we are reluctant to part with the players who have won us the highest honours, and fans who have shared solidarity with the club, we have to regretfully make an announcement,” a Jiangsu FC statement said.
“From today, Jiangsu Football Club ceases the operation of its teams.”
Most of the 16 teams in China’s top tiers are backed financially by property developers meaning that the downturn in China’s real estate market has had on-field consequences.The biggest company involved in football is Evergrande which took over Guangzhou in February 2010.
Significant investment in the team saw it win eight Chinese and two Asian championships by the end of the decade. In June however, Evergrande announced debts of over USD300 billion.
The team subsequently lost its star players as well as coach Fabio Cannavaro. According to reports, the company is considering selling its club.
In October Hebei FC, owned by China Fortune Land Development, revealed it was struggling. “Since 2020, Hebei FC has run into unprecedented difficulties,” the club said. “It is true that the club cannot pay water and electricity bills and travel expenses.”
The global pandemic has made the situation worse and not just because it has hit the bottom line of owners. In 2020, games were played in empty stadiums and while a limited number of fans were allowed at various points of the 2021 season, all games took place in either Guangzhou or Suzhou, reducing the revenue of clubs with sponsors and broadcasters also looking to reduce their investments.
The decision to suspend the league season from August to December to help the national team in qualification for the 2022 World Cup pushed the league further to the margins.
It was also ineffective as the local league will not receive a boost from China reaching its first World Cup since its 2002 debut.
The team has won just one out of six qualifiers so far and in November coach Li Tie left his position.
Amid all the gloom, it was perhaps fitting that Shandong Taishan, the last champion before the spending took off, has returned to the top now it has stopped.
HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kong authorities ordered about 170 people, including several officials, to be quarantined at a government facility yesterday after they attended a birthday party where two guests later tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam expressed disappointment on Thursday that government officials had attended the large party during the Omicron outbreak, saying it did not set a good example for the public.
Fears of a new virus cluster were sparked when the two guests tested positive.
Yesterday, health authorities said all guests at the January 3 party would be classified as close contacts and be sent to mandatory quarantine.
The city has been racing to control the Omicron variant, with authorities locking down multiple residential buildings for mass testing and sending hundreds of people into quarantine.
About 170 guests attended the birthday party, including about nine government officials and nearly 20 lawmakers.
“We now think that every person who had gone to the party is now a close contact.
“Therefore, our quarantine work is specifically aimed at the people who have attended the party,” said head of the communicable disease branch at the Center for Health Protection Chuang Shuk-kwan.
The Women’s Bureau and Economic Bureau of Panchor Mentiri Village Consultative Council (MPK) held a donation presentation ceremony yesterday.
The donations for orphans and underprivileged students was held at the residence of MPK Kampong Panchor Mentiri Deputy Chairperson Haji Mohd Eddie Hardey bin Haji Ibrahim.
RPN Kampong Panchor Mentiri Acting Village Head Helmi bin Haji Ahmad, the guest of honour, also presented the donations.
The event began with a recitation of Doa Selamat followed by the presentation of donations.
RPN Kampong Panchor Mentiri Acting Village Head Helmi bin Haji Ahmad presents a donation. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
At the age of 63, Matnarudin Ibrahim’s (Haji Dyn) passion for long distance running is stronger than ever. He is also looking to continue to compete in ultra-marathon events while also hope to inspire many more Bruneians to enjoy running.
The former general manager of DST Group Subsidiaries and Customer Service has participated in numerous Ultra Road and Ultra Trail Marathon races.
It’s not an easy feat, he had to fight off fatigue and endured harsh weather as well as unfamiliar environments to cross the finish line.
He was awarded as the oldest Bruneian to participate and finish in the 200-km TiTi Ultra road run on March 19, 2019 by the Brunei Book of Records. Haji Dyn was also recognised as Asia Trail Master (ATM) Grandmaster as well as the oldest Bruneian to compete and finish in the most number of Ultra Marathons with distances of between 50 and 200km.
“If someone asks me, what type of runner I am, I will say I am an ultra-endurance runner,” shared Haji Dyn.
Recalling when his passion for running began, he said, “I started running quite late, probably when I was 45 doing short distances of five to 10km. At the same time, my love for hiking began to grow where I would usually go to Bukit Shahbandar and Tasek Lama since these were the two places available during those times. There was no Bukit Silat, no Bukit Sipatir and no Bukit Sarubing.
Matnarudin Ibrahim receives a certificate for his entry in the Brunei Book of Records. PHOTO: JAMES KON
“From there, my passion for running or hiking grew. I started to join running and trail events especially those associated to charity,” he continued. “My first ultra-distance event then was the SMARTER Chairman’s Big Walk from Kuala Belait to Rimba Point in Brunei-Muara, covering a distance of 107km. Only four completed the challenge. My first official full marathon (42.2km) was the Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Charity Marathon for ALAF. I was very fortunate to be selected as one of the runners. Alhamdulillah, I have completed these two events and have managed to raise a small fund for charities.”
His interest in running continued to grow further as he joined and finished full road marathons in Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Jakarta, and Manila.
“I then started Ultra Endurance Running in both road and trail categories with finishing one 200km ultra road marathon, a few 100 miles road and trail ultras and a few 100km road and trail ultras,” he said, adding that this passion continues to this day, and that he would love to invite, guide, share knowledge and experience with other runners or those who want to be one.
Some of his achievements in his Ultra Marathon running journey include: the Titi Ultra 2019 200km; Selangor Malaysia Road Ultra Route 68 Challenge 2018 168km; Gombak Selangor Titi Ultra 2017 100km; Road Ultra Jesselton 107 2017 107km; Malaysia Road Ultra Jesselton 107 2018 107km; Malaysia Road Ultra Kuching Ultra Marathon 2018 100km; Sarawak Malaysia Road Ultra, Kuching Ultra Marathon 2017 70km; Sarawak Malaysia Road Ultra, Mejawa Ultra 2020 12hrs 54km; Brunei Road Ultra Endurance; Ultra Trail Marathon (Butm) 2020 100 Miles; Sabah Malaysia Trail Ultra, Ultra Trail Panaromic (Utp) 2019 100 Miles; Pai, Mae Hg Son Thailand Trail Ultra, Beacons Way Ultra 2019 100 Miles; Wales, United Kingdom Trail Ultra Ultra Trail Panaromic (Utp) 2017 100 Miles; and Mae H Son – Pai Thailand Trail Ultra.
Some of the Ultra Marathons that he has completed include eight Physical Ultra Road Marathons comprising one 200km, one 168km, two 107km, two 100km, one 70km, and one 54km. He has also completed 27 Physical Ultra Trail Marathons comprising distances of four 100 miles, 15 of 100km, one 84km, one 75km, one 70km, three 60km and two 50km. This means that he has participated in a minimum total of 35 Ultra Marathons (Real/Physical (Non-Virtual) Ultra Marathons) with varying distances of 50km to 200km.
However, he was also forced to stop half-way in several ultra-marathons due to the unbearable trail conditions, such as high altitude or extreme weather. “You must know when to stop at your limit. Don’t over exert yourself. That could bring injuries or even worse – death,” he said.
During the pandemic, Haji Dyn also took part in virtual ultra marathon races, though he acknowledged that they are not as fun as the real events.
He also shared some valuable tips for runners, especially on preparation before a race. “It is vital to know what lies ahead in the race by studying and listing out the challenges, whether it is hilly or a 100-per-cent covered road. We should also consider whether the trail runs through Orang Asli villages with mostly no road lights or lampposts. It is always good to be ready for any two loops of 100km, a distance that covers two nights and two days, lack of sleep, unpredictable weather, dehydration, drop bags at 50km/150km (half and three-quarter distances) and 100km/200km (start/finish). So, you have four drop bags, two at each location, and it is important to label your drop bags and others.”
He said that once preparations are complete, one needs to develop the training as well as running and pacing strategies on facing these challenges to finish the race.
Haji Dyn also spoke on doing Long Slow Distance (LSD), and Long Moving Time (LMT), five to 10 hours in one go. “Do not pause your watch (keep it running). Remember rest is part of your race, so rest is also part of your training. Train together with your running friends or, better still, with your running buddy who will be participating in the same event.
“Weather plays a very important part which affects your performance on any road ultra race. Be prepared for rain or shine. Train at night, to include coping with sleep deprivation, and during the day, to include heat tolerance. Apart from the long distance and hilly roads, the two major challenges at TITI Ultra 200KM are sleepiness and heat exhaustion.”
As for road ultra, most of one’s training should be on similar kinds of routes, with roads including hills, while for TITI Ultra the route is always hilly with a long climb and long descent.
“You need to find the highest and the longest hills possible for your training. Finding these in Brunei are difficult, so compromise; find the tallest and longest hills and do hill repeats. For ultra endurance races, speed is not the essence here; it is more of LMT through jogging, walking up, jogging and walking down the hills. TITI Ultra 200km routes are nearly 100 per cent tarmac. The weather is usually hot during the day so train for your LSD and LMT under the heat.”
Another advice is to carry mandatory equipment, a medical kit, food and drinks during all these trainings in a suitable and comfortable vest. This is for one to get used to running with a vest of similar weight during the race. He said one should use the food and drink they carry to refuel and replenish energy, and for hydration.
They should also get used to eating and drinking what they carry while they run, and remember not to feel exhausted.
He reminded not to ever try wearing or using new kits, and rather to wear those that are used during one’s training and are proven be comfortable even after doing one’s LSD and LMT. “Carry spare socks all the time to prevent blisters. Change your socks if they get wet.
When you begin to feel you are developing hot spots on your feet, do not wait until you have blisters.”
Haji Dyn also shared about calorie loading, where about three days before the actual race is the time for one to store glycogen in their muscles and body to fuel their race, with suitable food intake. The types of food and fuel will be different from one runner to the other, but this must be tried and tested pre-race during training.
“It may be best to take those food, fuel and supplements that can be taken before, during and after race. I call this a three-in-one supplement for energy, endurance, and recovery.
“Most runners tend to train hard in the last few days. This is to be avoided. Never do any hard training on the final days. The last few days are for us to ensure our body is ready for the race; – the real challenge. Just do short distance jogs and run or walk at a very low pace.
“Get yourself mentally ready. Ultra-endurance running requires higher mental strength than physical strength, in the ratio of 80 per cent to 20 per cent. These may be quite difficult to develop, and can only be achieved through smart training, and gaining experience by doing a few ultra-events. Patience is key.”
During a race, he advised for runners to have a race and spacing strategy.
“These include your strategy on calorie consumption, re-fuelling, hydration, rest, running buddy or buddies, food to carry, food and changing kits (shoes, socks, shorts, tops, hats, buff) at drop bag points.”
He explained that one of the main strategies is to still feel quite fresh (semi-tired but not exhausted) at quarter-way, half-way and three-quarter way points. By doing this, he said one will be in the best position to complete a race within one’s planned strategy, or probably even better.
It would be best to start from the back of the group, sticking to one’s pacing strategy. “We are not elite, so let the elite occupy the front of the pack. If we are in front, we tend to start at a faster pace and thus not follow our running and pacing strategy. This is one of the main reasons why most runners tend to be exhausted in the first 50km. Stick to your own planned pace. The real race is not at the start – it is in the last 50km, and where you need your energy and strength most. The real race is in the last 20km to the finishing line.”
He said that at the finish line, be grateful, be thankful. “Enjoy the moment. Celebrate. Then it will be toward recovery by having a recovery meal to replenish calories, repair muscles, full rest, sports massage and short breaks. Try not to do a ‘recovery run’ of 20km. Chill, take it easy, and be kind to your body and yourself. Be patient.”
Once fully rested, runners will feel the eagerness to register for a new challenge or challenges. “It is now time to plan your next and future ultras. Also at the same time, review the race to find out in what ways you can improve your performance in the race.”
Haji Dyn said, “I am not a certified coach, nor an expert in running, but I believe the experience that I have gained and gone through, and knowledge I have gathered through my running journey are worth sharing.
“It may be a good time now for me to share with you all these experiences. It is my great hope that these could provide you as guides and be useful in your own running journey.”
He expressed hope that sharing his vast experience and journey can further inspire more people in the country to join long distance running activities.
BANGKOK (AP) – World markets were lower yesterday, tracking a retreat on Wall Street led by declines in big technology stocks.
Shares fell in Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Shanghai but rose in Hong Kong. United States (US) futures also slipped.
A resurgence of coronavirus outbreaks has added to uncertainties over a revival of tourism and other business activity in many parts of the world including Asia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said a record 9.5 million COVID-19 cases were tallied over the last week as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus swept the planet, a 71 per cent increase from the previous seven-day period that the United Nations (UN) health agency likened to a “tsunami”.
Germany’s DAX lost 0.7 per cent to 15,942.67 while the CAC 40 in Paris declined 0.5 per cent to 7,215.30. Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 0.1 per cent to 7,443.90, The future for the Dow industrials lost 10 points while that for the S&P 500 slipped 0.2 per cent.
Germany’s leaders were set to consider possible new restrictions and changes to quarantine rules as the new Omicron variant was quickly advancing.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the country’s 16 state governors were likely to build on restrictions introduced just after Christmas that limited private gatherings to 10 people, among other things. Japan approved new restrictions yesterday to curb a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the three most affected southwestern regions of Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima.
People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo yesterday. PHOTO: AP
Asia has seen smaller numbers but infections are rising rapidly and bottlenecks in testing mean that still more cases are likely unreported. At the same time, alarm has been kept in check by signs the Omicron variant may cause less severe illness, especially in countries with high levels of vaccination against COVID-19.
“The highly transmissible Omicron variant is a near-term growth risk for low vaccinated emerging market economies, and to supply chains amid China’s zero-COVID strategy,” Sonal Varma of Nomura said in a report.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index edged less than 0.1 per cent lower to 28,478.56 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong jumped 1.8 per cent to 23,493.48. South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.2 per cent to 2,954.89, while the Shanghai Composite index shed early gains to fall 0.2 per cent, closing at 3,579.54. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.3 per cent to 7,453.30.
Shares in Taiwan dropped 1.1 per cent and India’s Sensex was nearly unchanged.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 slipped 0.1 per cent to 4,696.05. The Dow slipped 0.5 per cent to 36,236.47. The Nasdaq composite lost 0.1 per cent to 15,080.86, while smaller company stocks bucked the broader market, with the Russell 2000 index gaining 0.6 per cent to 2,206.37.
Weakness in big tech companies like Apple was the main culprit.
Bonds continued to climb. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 1.73 per cent, the highest level since March. It was 1.70 per cent late Wednesday.
The selling followed a broad slide for the markets on Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve indicated it was ready to raise interest rates to fight off inflation.
The US Labour Department reported that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remained at historically low levels, suggesting that the job market remains strong.
Much attention will be focussed on the US Labour Department’s monthly jobs report. A strong jobs report could add urgency to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tackle inflation by raising interest rates.
In other trading yesterday, US benchmark crude oil added 54 cents to USD80.00 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It jumped 2.1 per cent on Thursday, helping to push energy stocks higher.
Brent crude, the basis for pricing international oil, climbed 54 cents to USD82.53 per barrel.
The US dollar slipped to JPY115.90 from JPY115.85 late Thursday. The euro rose to USD1.1315 from USD1.1298.
