Honda reports first operating loss since 1957, with a net loss of $2.7 billion, due to weakened EV demand, US trade policies, and intense Chinese competition, prompting a strategic shift towards hybrid and conventional models.
European stock markets are expected to open lower on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 seen down 0.15%, as investors digest the UAE's shock announcement to exit OPEC on May 1 and await key earnings reports from major companies including UBS, Deutsche Bank, and TotalEnergies. The move complicates global oil supply outlook amid continued Strait of Hormuz blockade concerns.
Indian equity markets fell by 1% as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran triggered an oil price rally. Investor sentiment was further dampened by disappointing Q4 earnings from Infosys and sustained selling by foreign institutional investors.
