PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: Viva Energy (VEA AT) refinery experiences a fire which will impact petrol production, while Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) is accelerating development of HBM4E
AUSTRALIA
Alkane Resources (ALK AT) - Co. to join the S&P/ASX 200 Index replacing National Storage REIT, effective before the open of trading on April 22, 2026. (Motley Fool)
AMP (AMP AT) - Co. Q1 (AUD) platforms net inflows rose 45% Y/Y to AUD 1.1bln, superannuation & investments net outflows fell 26% Y/Y to AUD 80mln, NZ wealth management net cashflows AUD 41mln vs. AUD 57mln in Q1 2025, China Life pension assets under management rose 17% for FY25, AMP Bank GO deposits rose AUD 632mln since Dec 31 to AUD 942mln at March 31, commencing previously announced AUD 150mln on-market buyback, CEO said cost-of-living pressures are weighing on client sentiment. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Ansell (ANN AT) - Co. CFO Brian Montgomery resigns to join Hologic, while Co. appoints strategy VP Fred Marx as acting CFO and engaged search firm to support recruitment of new CFO. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Contact Energy (CEN AT) - Co. mass market electricity and gas sales rose to 359 GWh (prev. 282 GWh March 2025), mass market netback fell to USD 172.45/MWh (prev. USD 182.13/MWh March 2025), contracted wholesale electricity sales rose to 903 GWh (prev. 701 GWh March 2025). (Motley Fool)
Flight Centre (FLT AT) - Co. AUD 200mln on-market share buyback now complete with around 7% of issued share capital repurchased and intends to retire 2028 convertible notes next month. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
National Storage REIT (NSR AT) - Co. to be removed from the S&P/ASX 200 Index pending final court approval of its acquisition by Brookfield Asset Management and GIC, with the removal and replacement process effective before the open of trading on April 22, 2026. (Motley Fool)
Netwealth (NWL AT) - Co. funds under administration totalled AUD 125.8bln at end-March, with positive net flows of AUD 4.0bln offsetting market declines of AUD 3.7bln in Q3. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
New Hope Corp (NHC AT) - Co. prices AUD 300mln of 2.625% notes due 2032, expects note settlement April 22, to concurrently repurchase AUD 293.3mln of notes due 2029, CFO said refinance is on higher conversion rate and lower interest rate. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Qantas (QAN AT) - Co. faces an AUD 800mln increase in its fuel bill, prompting immediate cuts to domestic flights and higher airfares for passengers. (The Australian)
Viva Energy (VEA AT) - Australia’s Energy Minister said a fire at the Co.'s refinery is still not under control, while diesel and jet fuel output continues, although the CEO said the refinery fire will impact petrol production. (Newswires)
JAPAN
Fuji Electric (6504 JP) - Co. and Cosmo Eco Power, a subsidiary of Cosmo Energy Holdings (5021 JP), entered into a virtual power purchase agreement. (Newswires)
Honda Motor (7267 JP) - Co. is recalling 440,830 vehicles in the US amid air bag issues, according to NHTSA. (Newswires)
J. Front Retailing (3086 JP) - Co. FY (JPY) net fell 31.7% Y/Y to 28.3bln, rev. rose 0.7% Y/Y to 445.1bln. (Dow Jones Newsplus)
Nippon Steel (5401 JP) - Co.'s shift from blast furnaces to electric furnaces faces energy and price hurdles. (Nikkei)
Panasonic Holdings (6752 JP) - Co. has revived the Sanyo brand of air conditioners in Vietnam targeting the country’s middle-income segment. (Nikkei)
Banks - Japan's largest banks are stepping up corporate payment services overseas, seeking to support Japanese companies' foreign operations while securing a steady stream of US dollars and other foreign currency deposits. (Nikkei)
Other News
Airbus (AIR FP), Hitachi (6501 JT), Subaru (7270 JT) and others to participate in a Japan-EU defence industry cooperation framework aimed at strengthening supply chains amid rising geopolitical risks. (Nikkei)
SOUTH KOREA
Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) - Co. is accelerating development of its seventh-generation high-bandwidth memory HBM4E, plans to complete development of its first sample meeting target performance next month, with early samples slated for NVIDIA (NVDA) as the Co. leans on proven 4nm and 1c processes. (ChosunBiz)
Viva Energy's refinery fire is a significant operational disruption, likely reducing petrol output and impacting local fuel supply, which could elevate petrol prices. This news, paired with Samsung's acceleration of HBM4E development, reflects a mixed landscape in Asia-Pacific markets; while one company faces challenges, another is advancing in technology, which can influence investors' sentiment on the sector's resilience and growth prospects. Market participants should keep an eye on related fuel and energy stocks, as well as tech firms with ties to Samsung.