Zhima AI Express: Last Night and This Morning's Financial Hot Topics | April 3, 2026

Financial markets are like a turbulent, ever-changing ocean—constantly stirred by waves of investment and economic policy—profoundly shaping the direction of the global economy. Here, Sesame AI brings you last night and this morning’s finance-and-economics headline news, covering key areas end-to-end, including stock market developments, economic data, corporate financial conditions, and policy updates, helping you accurately track the shifts in the financial world and catch the pulse of the market.

Trump’s remarks trigger a global market shock; oil prices surge while stocks fall
On April 2, Trump warned that within the next two to three weeks he would take military action against Iran, dealing a blow to market expectations that conflict would cool in the near term. U.S. WTI crude oil futures for May delivery surged 13% to $113 per barrel; Brent crude oil futures for June delivery rose 8% to $109 per barrel. Global stock markets were hit—Asia-Pacific markets and U.S. stock index futures fell, while gold and silver dropped sharply. Trump’s remarks increased uncertainty, threatening to attack Iran’s oil infrastructure; if shipping through the strait cannot be restored, pressure on the oil market will be hard to ease. Details>>

More than 1 trillion yuan in A-share “red envelopes” arrives; nearly 80% of companies plan to distribute dividends
As of the evening of April 1, among companies disclosing their 2025 annual reports, 78.6% plan cash dividends. 940 companies are expected to distribute a combined 1.01 trillion yuan in dividends, with Shanghai-listed companies accounting for nearly 80%. 22 companies plan to distribute more than 10 billion yuan, with banks, insurance firms, and oil and petrochemical companies serving as the main “dividend players.” However, more than 200 companies will not distribute dividends due to deteriorating performance or losses. Details>>

CITIC Securities: The adjustment in the insurance sector is expected to be over; proactively seize opportunities
CITIC Securities believes that the insurance sector has fallen 15% since the beginning of the year, mainly due to external factors, and that 1x PB is a reliable indicator for positioning. The upward trend in the fundamentals cycle is expected to strengthen in the first quarter of 2026, with declining costs on the liability side, more choices on the asset side, and regulation promoting concentration of market share. Implementation of policies related to the “15th Five-Year Plan” is expected to drive coordinated development between medical insurance and commercial insurance. It expects the sector’s adjustment to be over and suggests seizing opportunities, focusing on leading companies. Details>>

19 stocks see year-ahead earnings growth in Q1; 3 are heavily bought by margin investors
As of the close on April 1, 26 listed companies disclosed their 2026 first-quarter performance: 19 expect year-over-year growth in net profit attributable to shareholders, 2 expect to turn losses into profits, and 2 expect to reduce losses. Ouke Yi and Fuxiang Pharmaceutical are both expected to see growth of more than 2000%. Companies in the general equipment and semiconductor industries have a relatively higher number of positive earnings. 11 stocks saw net purchases by margin investors exceeding 100 million yuan; Demingli, Ouke Yi, and Xinrui Co., Ltd. rank among the leaders. Details>>

Bank of America warns: $100 oil will run through the year; rate cuts by the Fed face a “blowout” risk
Bank of America warns that, affected by the Iran war, even if hostilities subside within a few weeks, high oil prices of $100 per barrel will carry through 2026, delivering a double blow to the global economy via both slowing growth and high inflation. It expects U.S. full-year economic growth to slow to 2.3%, inflation to rise from 2.8% to 3.6%, global GDP growth expectations to be lowered to 3.1%, and inflation expectations to be raised to 3.3%. Bank of America still expects the Fed to cut rates by 50 basis points this year, but the risk of rate cuts missing the mark remains high. Details>>

The Middle East’s largest aluminum producer’s plant is blown up and shuts down entirely; the global aluminum shortage crisis escalates sharply
After the Tavira smelter, under EGA, the Middle East’s largest aluminum producer, was hit by Iranian missiles and drones, it shut down completely, and the Bahrain Aluminum plant was also attacked. If EGA’s smelting plant suspends operations and Alba cuts production, combined with Qatar Aluminium cutting production, it will lead to roughly 3 million tons of annual capacity being brought to a halt—nearing about half of the Middle East’s aluminum production capacity. At one point, London Metal Exchange aluminum prices rose as much as 2%, and related companies’ stock prices rose by more than 7%. Details>>

Suddenly turns bullish after nearly 10 years of being eliminated; wired earphone sales surge 20%
A research organization, Circana, reports that after wired earphones experienced five years of sales declines, in the first three months of 2026 sales revenue jumped 20%. The reasons for its resurgence include fashion going through cycles, with celebrities wearing them making them a fashion item; strong value for money, with prices at less than one-seventh of wireless earphones; addressing wireless earphones’ pain points around battery anxiety and being easy to misplace, and also offering a “social shielding” function. Details>>

Chen Guangbiao gifts Zhang Xue a Rolls-Royce worth 13 million yuan; Zhang Xue wants to sell the car and donate the proceeds
On April 1, Chen Guangbiao announced he would gift Zhang Xue a Rolls-Royce worth 13 million yuan to recognize her role in leading China’s motorcycle racers to victory at the world’s top-tier track. In the early hours of April 2, Zhang Xue responded, saying she would donate the funds to “Yanran Angels,” and also recruited secondhand car dealers to buy the vehicles at 80% of the original price. Chen Guangbiao said the gift was meant as a reward for Zhang Xue’s spirit, and that if the donation were made by selling the car, it would be a misunderstanding of her original intention. Details>>

Iran uses more than 100 heavy missiles, striking across the entire territory of Israel
On the afternoon of April 1 local time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a statement saying that in “Operation True Promise - 4,” Wave 89, it used more than 100 heavy missiles, attack drones, and 200 rocket rounds, with strike coverage across the entire Western Asia region and all of Israel, resulting in “major personnel casualties.” A U.S. military location in Bahrain and a helicopter formation of a U.S. military base in Kuwait were also attacked. Details>>

The UK will convene 35 countries to discuss restarting the plan for the Strait of Hormuz; the U.S. is not on the list
UK Prime Minister Starmer said that on April 2 local time, he would convene a meeting of 35 countries to discuss a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the United States not participating. The strait has been blocked due to the Iran–U.S. war, leading to a sharp rise in oil prices. After the 35 countries signed a statement requiring Iran to stop obstructing the strait, further “official-level meetings” will be held to discuss details. Details>>

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