Asia stocks rally as China indicates potential US trade talks; HK top gainer By Investing.com
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 02 2025
0mins
Should l Buy SF?
Source: Investing.com
Asian Stock Market Performance: Most Asian stock markets experienced significant gains on Friday, led by Hong Kong, following positive signals from China regarding potential trade talks with the U.S. and a strong finish on Wall Street.
Trade Talks and Economic Indicators: China indicated it is open to trade discussions with the U.S., contingent on sincerity and the removal of unilateral tariffs, while various Asian indices, including Japan's Nikkei 225 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200, also saw increases amid easing global trade war concerns.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy SF?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on SF
Wall Street analysts forecast SF stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SF is 143.67 USD with a low forecast of 133.00 USD and a high forecast of 155.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 124.010
Low
133.00
Averages
143.67
High
155.00
Current: 124.010
Low
133.00
Averages
143.67
High
155.00
About SF
Stifel Financial Corp. is a financial holding company. The Company's principal subsidiary is Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, a full-service retail and institutional wealth management and investment banking company. The Company’s segments include Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other. Its Global Wealth Management segment provides securities transaction, brokerage, and investment services to its clients through the consolidated Stifel branch system. The Institutional Group segment includes research, equity and fixed income institutional sales and trading, investment banking, public finance, and syndicate. The Other segment includes interest income from stock borrowing activities, unallocated interest expense, interest income and gains and losses from investments held, amortization of stock-based awards for certain administrative associates; and all unallocated overhead costs associated with the execution of orders; custody of client securities, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Axalta and PPG Report Fourth Quarter Earnings
- Earnings Report: Axalta and PPG, the two largest suppliers in the collision-repair paint industry, have reported their fourth-quarter earnings, although specific financial figures were not disclosed, the market is keenly observing their performance impact on the industry.
- Market Reaction: Investor responses to the earnings of both companies could influence overall confidence in the paint industry, particularly in the current economic climate where recovery prospects are under scrutiny.
- Competitive Dynamics: The performance of Axalta and PPG will serve as a benchmark for other paint suppliers, potentially triggering strategic adjustments within the industry that could affect market share distribution.
- Future Outlook: As the automotive repair market gradually recovers, the earnings performance of Axalta and PPG will be a critical indicator of industry recovery, prompting investors to closely monitor subsequent developments.
See More
Mixed Close for US Stocks as Retail Sales Stagnate
- Retail Sales Weakness: US December retail sales were unchanged month-over-month, falling short of the +0.4% expectation, indicating weakness in consumer spending that could lead to a downward revision in Q4 GDP, thereby impacting market confidence and economic growth outlook.
- Employment Cost Index Decline: The US Q4 employment cost index rose by +0.7% quarter-over-quarter, below the expected +0.8%, marking the smallest increase in 4.5 years, suggesting easing labor cost pressures that may influence the Fed's monetary policy decisions.
- Mixed Market Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new all-time high, closing up +0.10%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices fell by -0.33% and -0.56%, respectively, reflecting divergent market sentiment and uncertainty.
- Focus on Upcoming Economic Data: The market will closely monitor upcoming economic data, including January nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate, which are expected to significantly influence future monetary policy and market trends.
See More
Wealth Management Startup Triggers Market Turmoil
- Market Reaction: Shares of U.S. brokerages fell sharply after wealth management startup Altruist launched AI-enabled tax planning features, with Charles Schwab (SCHW.N) down 6.4% and LPL Financial (LPLA.O) diving 8.3%, indicating growing investor anxiety towards traditional financial firms.
- Disruption Concerns: The rise of AI-first startups automating complex tasks has heightened investor fears about the future of legacy financial and tech companies, particularly as Altruist's new features threaten to disrupt retail brokerage operations.
- Market Dynamics: Morgan Stanley (MS.N) fell 2.8% and Ameriprise Financial (AMP.N) slipped 6%, reflecting the broader financial market's turmoil following a selloff in global software stocks due to concerns over disruptive technologies.
- Intensifying Competition: Altruist's Hazel AI platform automates personalized tax strategy creation by analyzing client documents, posing a threat to retail brokerages, especially as insurgent firms like Robinhood and Public have already made inroads with low-cost, tech-enabled offerings.
See More
Santhera Appoints Stifel as Financial Advisor
- Advisor Appointment: Santhera Pharmaceuticals has appointed Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited as its new corporate finance advisor, focusing on capital markets and international institutional investors, thereby enhancing its influence in the capital markets.
- Partnership Continuation: Octavian AG will continue to act as the company's finance advisor, collaborating with Stifel to broaden the investor base and increase the company's visibility and attractiveness in the global market.
- Innovative Drug Development: Santhera focuses on developing innovative medicines for rare neuromuscular diseases, with AGAMREE® (vamorolone) approved in multiple countries, showcasing the company's potential in addressing high unmet medical needs.
- Global Market Strategy: AGAMREE® has received approvals in the U.S., EU, UK, and other regions, and has been out-licensed to Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Sperogenix Therapeutics, and Nxera Pharma, indicating Santhera's strategic positioning and collaboration intentions in the global market.
See More
2nd LA CorpGov Forum Set for September 18 Featuring Sports, Entertainment & M&A
- Event Date and Venue: The 2nd LA CorpGov Forum is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 2:30 PM at The Huntington Library in San Marino, California, aiming to attract numerous institutional investors and corporate executives to foster industry networking and collaboration.
- Rich Agenda: The forum will feature multiple panels, fireside chats, and networking opportunities, with a reception at 5:00 PM offering cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, enhancing relationship-building among attendees.
- Digital Report Publication: The event will be filmed with multiple 4K cameras and professionally edited, resulting in a report that will be published by CorpGov and its content partners like Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, ensuring broad dissemination and impact of the insights shared.
- First Forum Recap: The inaugural LA CorpGov Forum took place on September 4, 2025, in Los Angeles, attracting over 100 institutional investors and corporate executives to discuss critical topics such as IPOs and shareholder activism, underscoring the forum's significance and influence within the industry.
See More
Consumer Staples Appear Expensive: Explore Clorox and Other High-Yield Stocks with Strong Dividends.
- Market Shift: There is a significant rotation from software stocks to safer investments like consumer staples.
- Investor Sentiment: Investors are concerned that advancements in AI, such as ChatGPT, may negatively impact service-oriented businesses while benefiting manufacturers of household products.
See More
Axalta and PPG Report Fourth Quarter Earnings
- Earnings Report: Axalta and PPG, the two largest suppliers in the collision-repair paint industry, have reported their fourth-quarter earnings, although specific financial figures were not disclosed, the market is keenly observing their performance impact on the industry.
- Market Reaction: Investor responses to the earnings of both companies could influence overall confidence in the paint industry, particularly in the current economic climate where recovery prospects are under scrutiny.
- Competitive Dynamics: The performance of Axalta and PPG will serve as a benchmark for other paint suppliers, potentially triggering strategic adjustments within the industry that could affect market share distribution.
- Future Outlook: As the automotive repair market gradually recovers, the earnings performance of Axalta and PPG will be a critical indicator of industry recovery, prompting investors to closely monitor subsequent developments.
See More
Mixed Close for US Stocks as Retail Sales Stagnate
- Retail Sales Weakness: US December retail sales were unchanged month-over-month, falling short of the +0.4% expectation, indicating weakness in consumer spending that could lead to a downward revision in Q4 GDP, thereby impacting market confidence and economic growth outlook.
- Employment Cost Index Decline: The US Q4 employment cost index rose by +0.7% quarter-over-quarter, below the expected +0.8%, marking the smallest increase in 4.5 years, suggesting easing labor cost pressures that may influence the Fed's monetary policy decisions.
- Mixed Market Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new all-time high, closing up +0.10%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices fell by -0.33% and -0.56%, respectively, reflecting divergent market sentiment and uncertainty.
- Focus on Upcoming Economic Data: The market will closely monitor upcoming economic data, including January nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate, which are expected to significantly influence future monetary policy and market trends.
See More
Wealth Management Startup Triggers Market Turmoil
- Market Reaction: Shares of U.S. brokerages fell sharply after wealth management startup Altruist launched AI-enabled tax planning features, with Charles Schwab (SCHW.N) down 6.4% and LPL Financial (LPLA.O) diving 8.3%, indicating growing investor anxiety towards traditional financial firms.
- Disruption Concerns: The rise of AI-first startups automating complex tasks has heightened investor fears about the future of legacy financial and tech companies, particularly as Altruist's new features threaten to disrupt retail brokerage operations.
- Market Dynamics: Morgan Stanley (MS.N) fell 2.8% and Ameriprise Financial (AMP.N) slipped 6%, reflecting the broader financial market's turmoil following a selloff in global software stocks due to concerns over disruptive technologies.
- Intensifying Competition: Altruist's Hazel AI platform automates personalized tax strategy creation by analyzing client documents, posing a threat to retail brokerages, especially as insurgent firms like Robinhood and Public have already made inroads with low-cost, tech-enabled offerings.
See More
Santhera Appoints Stifel as Financial Advisor
- Advisor Appointment: Santhera Pharmaceuticals has appointed Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited as its new corporate finance advisor, focusing on capital markets and international institutional investors, thereby enhancing its influence in the capital markets.
- Partnership Continuation: Octavian AG will continue to act as the company's finance advisor, collaborating with Stifel to broaden the investor base and increase the company's visibility and attractiveness in the global market.
- Innovative Drug Development: Santhera focuses on developing innovative medicines for rare neuromuscular diseases, with AGAMREE® (vamorolone) approved in multiple countries, showcasing the company's potential in addressing high unmet medical needs.
- Global Market Strategy: AGAMREE® has received approvals in the U.S., EU, UK, and other regions, and has been out-licensed to Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Sperogenix Therapeutics, and Nxera Pharma, indicating Santhera's strategic positioning and collaboration intentions in the global market.
See More
2nd LA CorpGov Forum Set for September 18 Featuring Sports, Entertainment & M&A
- Event Date and Venue: The 2nd LA CorpGov Forum is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 2:30 PM at The Huntington Library in San Marino, California, aiming to attract numerous institutional investors and corporate executives to foster industry networking and collaboration.
- Rich Agenda: The forum will feature multiple panels, fireside chats, and networking opportunities, with a reception at 5:00 PM offering cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, enhancing relationship-building among attendees.
- Digital Report Publication: The event will be filmed with multiple 4K cameras and professionally edited, resulting in a report that will be published by CorpGov and its content partners like Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, ensuring broad dissemination and impact of the insights shared.
- First Forum Recap: The inaugural LA CorpGov Forum took place on September 4, 2025, in Los Angeles, attracting over 100 institutional investors and corporate executives to discuss critical topics such as IPOs and shareholder activism, underscoring the forum's significance and influence within the industry.
See More
Consumer Staples Appear Expensive: Explore Clorox and Other High-Yield Stocks with Strong Dividends.
- Market Shift: There is a significant rotation from software stocks to safer investments like consumer staples.
- Investor Sentiment: Investors are concerned that advancements in AI, such as ChatGPT, may negatively impact service-oriented businesses while benefiting manufacturers of household products.
See More
