A person stands near an electronic stock board, left top, showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm on July 22, in Tokyo. The traffic signs read: No Crossing. (AP)

BANGKOK, July 22, (AP): World shares were mixed on Tuesday after U.S. stock indexes inched to more records at the start of a week of profit updates from big U.S. companies. Germany’s DAX lost 0.5% to 24,186.14 and the CAC 40 in Paris gave up 0.4% to 7,768.46. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower, to 9,009.34. The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were virtually unchanged.

In Asian trading, Japan’s benchmark surged and then fell back as it reopened from a holiday Monday following the ruling coalition’s loss of its upper house majority in Sunday’s election. The Nikkei 225 shed 0.1% to 39,774.92. Analysts said the market initially climbed as investors were relieved that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to stay in office despite the setback

. But the election’s outcome has added to political uncertainty and left his government without the heft needed to push through legislation. A breakthrough in trade talks with the US might win Ishiba a reprieve, but so far there’s been scant sign of progress in negotiating away the threat of higher tariffs on Japan’s exports to the US beginning Aug 1.

“Relief may be fleeting. Ishiba’s claim to leadership now rests on political duct tape, and history isn’t on his side. The last three LDP leaders who lost the upper house didn’t last two months,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.4% to 25,082.78, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.6% to 3,581.86.

South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.3% to 3,169.94, with investors concerned over the Aug. 1 deadline for making a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump or facing 25% tariffs on all the country’s exports to the US. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.1% to 8,677.20.

India’s Sensex gained 0.1%, while In Thailand, the SET sank 1.1% after the government named Vitai Ratanakorn as the new future governor of the central bank. He is viewed as likely to be less independent than the current governor, raising concerns about the bank’s independence, analysts said. Vitai will replace Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, when his term as governor ends in September.  

KUWAIT CITY, July 21: The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has obtained approval from the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) to issue a tender for linking the external sites of the ministry with the National Data Control Center (NDCC), say sources from the ministry. Sources indicated that this tender is included in the contracts of the ministry for the current fiscal year and are scheduled to be implemented by the Planning, Training and Information Systems Sector. Sources revealed that the tender is for linking the external branches with the data center in the main ministry building and the NDCC in order to allow the exchange of information and provision of electronic services.

Sources pointed out that “subject to the approval of CAPT, the tender will be announced and a date will be set for specialized companies to submit their bids, select the winning bid and implement the project under the regulations.” Sources added the ministry intends to install five main power transformer stations for the Automobile Circuit Project — Rawda Block Three, Kabd C, cow farms, Sharq Block Four and Al- Arabi Club; in addition to supplying and extending the necessary underground cables to feed the five planned stations through two tenders: the first for the stations and the second for the cables. Sources said the two tenders aim to provide the energy needed to expand the high-voltage and ultra- high-voltage electrical networks resulting from the increased demand for electricity in the aforementioned areas, as well as to provide electricity continuously throughout the day. Moreover, the ministry also confirmed the start of electricity connection in Al-Mutlaa Residential City (N1 District – parts of Block One; in cooperation with the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW). It reiterated that it is now receiving applications to connect electricity to 251 plots

By Mohammad Ghanem
 Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff 

Chairman of the Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Sabah receives the Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Kenichiro Mukai

KUWAIT CITY, July 21: Chairman of the Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Jaber Al- Sabah said Sunday that the DGCA looks forward to promoting cooperation with Japan in civil aviation. Sheikh Humoud made the remarks while welcoming Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Kenichiro Mukai to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of civil aviation, the DGCA said in a press release. He underlined the importance of deepening the distinguished ties between both friendly countries, praising Japan’s advanced experience in technology and aviation industry, it said. For his part, the Japanese Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the Kuwaiti official for his hospitality, saying that his country is interested in furthering cooperation with the State of Kuwait in aviation, in a way that contributes to exchanging expertise and achieving integration in the fields that concern both sides. (KUNA)