$HMC

The article says Japanese automakers including Toyota, Honda, and Nissan benefited in recent quarterly results from a weak yen, with Toyota and Honda raising full-year forecasts and Nissan returning to profit. It warns that a rare yen-buying intervention and potential yen strengthening, plus Iran-related Middle East shipping and raw-material cost pressures, could hurt earnings. Analysts cite yen sensitivity of about 2% operating profit per 1% yen move.

Indigenous residents and landowners in Barangay Macambol, Mati City, have kept a weeks-long barricade against Hallmark Mining Corporation, demanding direct dialogue over operational and governance concerns. A barangay councilor said communications to the company and NCIP have not been received. The blockade follows a Feb 2026 Davao Oriental Provincial Board decision to revoke support for Hallmark and Austral-Asia Link mining.

The article says Mercedes-Benz sold 1,153 electric CLA units in China in the first half, far below Xiaomi’s SU7 at over 80,000 similarly priced deliveries. It cites at least 30% second-quarter sales declines for BMW, Volkswagen and Porsche in China. Mercedes is pausing the CLA push due to unprofitable economics, while BMW cut its China margin outlook to about 1% and plans Neue Klasse models.

The article reviews leadership changes at 10 large-cap Indian listed companies in 2026, spanning HDFC Bank, Infosys, Canara Bank, Cipla, Hero MotoCorp, Hyundai Motor India, Bharti Airtel, and Eternal (Zomato), among others. It cites board and management appointments, including HDFC Bank’s Rajiv Kumar as part-time chairman (subject to RBI clearance) and Puneet Sharma as CFO, plus CEO successions at Infosys, Cipla, Airtel, and Eternal.

The article says global EV sales are slowing as prices and charging access deter buyers, while hybrid car sales are rising. It cites U.S. hybrids at about 14% of new cars in 2023 versus under 3% in 2020, and Spain near half. Toyota is expanding hybrid-only models like the RAV4, with demand and production increases.

Honda (HMC) reported record first-quarter operating profit of JPY 530.7B, driven by motorcycle profit of JPY 233.9B and automobile profit of JPY 192.1B. It raised full-year operating profit guidance to JPY 650B (+JPY 150B) and adjusted guidance to JPY 1.17T. FY profit attributable to owners guidance is JPY 400B. Currency assumption: JPY 155/USD.

Indian equity benchmarks fell mid-morning as investors digested Q1 FY27 earnings and monitored monsoon progress, crude oil, gold, and geopolitics. Sensex was down 0.40% to 77,765.68 and Nifty 50 down 0.33% to 24,317.45. Auto stocks declined, with the Nifty Auto Index down 0.89%. IPOs: Shiprocket and Behari Lal Engineering were subscribed 11.57x and 23.06x.

Honda (HMC) reported record Q1 operating profit of JPY 530.7B, with motorcycle operating profit of JPY 233.9B and automobile operating profit of JPY 192.1B. It raised FY operating profit guidance to JPY 650B (up JPY 150B) and adjusted guidance to JPY 1.17T. Currency assumption set at JPY 155/USD; EV-related losses forecast JPY 520B.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 957.29 points, or 1.42%, to 68,481.35, extending gains after mixed Wall Street cues. Financials and some tech stocks led, while automakers were weaker. SoftBank Group gained over 2%, Advantest rose nearly 5%. Japan producer prices rose 7.2% y/y in July, below expectations.

California approved the “My First EV” rebate program to offset the loss of federal EV incentives. First-time buyers of new EVs under $50,000 get $3,500, and used EVs under $25,000 get $1,750, with automakers matching and Plug-in hybrids excluded. Tesla, Hyundai and Lucid launched first; funding is estimated to cover about 73,000 sales.