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Asian equities extended gains on Thursday as optimism over a potential  extension of the US-Iran ceasefire  drove investors back into risk assets, while easing oil prices helped reduce inflation concerns.  Equities Rebound Toward Pre-War Levels The  MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  rose  1% , approaching levels seen before the Middle East conflict began. Regional markets, including  Singapore, Taiwan, and China , have largely  recovered war-driven losses China’s  CSI 300 Index  held gains after stronger-than-expected economic growth The rally reflects a  broad shift back into equities , supported by improving geopolitical sentiment and strong corporate earnings. Oil Stabilises Below US$100, Easing Inflation Pressure Brent crude held around  US$95 per barrel , well below last month’s peak near US$120. Lower oil prices are helping to: Reduce inflation expectations Support  bond markets , with US Treasury yields easing slightly Impro...

Asian markets surged at the start of April as  hopes of easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East  boosted risk sentiment, while strong economic data from North Asia added further support. Equities Rally on War De-escalation Signals The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index jumped 2.7% , snapping a four-day losing streak as investors reacted to signs that the  US-Iran conflict may be nearing a resolution . US President  Donald Trump  indicated that military operations could  end within two to three weeks , improving market sentiment despite ongoing hostilities. Regional markets responded strongly: South Korea’s Kospi surged up to 5.5% Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed as much as 3.9% The rebound followed a strong session on Wall Street, where the  S&P 500 rallied 2.9% , reflecting global optimism over a potential diplomatic path forward. Korea’s Data Surprise Fuels Tech-Led Gains South Korea led regional gains, supported by  robust economic da...

Asian markets are poised for a rebound after the US signalled a  temporary delay in strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure , boosting hopes of  de-escalation in the Middle East conflict . Relief Rally Builds on Softer Geopolitical Tone Equity futures across the region pointed higher: Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia markets set to  open stronger US markets previously rallied  over 1% , providing positive momentum The shift comes after US President Donald Trump indicated a  five-day pause in military action , citing progress in discussions with Iran. Oil Volatility Remains Key Market Driver Oil prices remain highly sensitive: WTI crude rebounded  after plunging more than  10% previously The  Strait of Hormuz , which handles ~20% of global oil flows, remains central to market risk Despite the relief, uncertainty persists as  Iran denied any negotiations , keeping the outlook fragile. Rate Expectations Shift as Yields Fall The easing geopolitic...

Emerging Asian markets came under heavy pressure on Monday as  persistent Middle East tensions kept oil prices elevated , driving risk aversion and accelerating capital outflows across the region. Broad Selloff Across Emerging Asia The  MSCI Emerging Asia Index fell 3% , extending its March decline to  over 11% , putting it on track for its  worst monthly performance since 2022 . Key markets led the downturn: South Korea’s Kospi plunged up to 6.4% Taiwan equities dropped as much as 3.2% Singapore and Philippines markets fell 2%–3% The selloff reflects mounting concerns over  prolonged geopolitical risks and inflation pressures . Oil Above US$110 Fuels Risk Aversion Oil prices remained  above US$110 per barrel , reinforcing fears of: Imported inflation across Asia Higher production and transport costs Slower economic growth While some Iranian supply may return to markets, investors remain focused on the  risk of further disruptions to energy infrastruct...

Asian equities extended losses on Wednesday as investors braced for a potential energy shock from the escalating Middle East conflict, raising concerns about inflation and delayed rate cuts. Seoul Leads Regional Rout KOSPI Index  plunged 4%, bringing its two-day losses to more than 11%. The selloff: Hit fast-money and foreign investors Dragged the Korean won to a 17-year low Followed heavy profit-taking in memory chipmakers that had rallied on AI-driven earnings Meanwhile: Nikkei 225  fell 2.5% for a third straight session Japan and South Korea, both major energy importers, faced added pressure Key Point: Energy-importing markets are bearing the brunt as oil prices surge. Oil Jumps, Inflation Risks Mount Brent crude  climbed more than 12% this week to US$81.40 per barrel. Prices eased slightly after  Donald Trump  ordered insurance guarantees for Gulf shipping and signalled possible naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz. Still, attacks on oil infrastructure...

Asian equities advanced on Thursday, tracking Wall Street’s gains as strong corporate earnings and continued AI momentum offset lingering concerns over escalating  US-China trade frictions . Meanwhile,  gold surged to a new record high  and the  yen strengthened , reflecting renewed demand for safe-haven assets. Regional Markets Rally on AI and Earnings Momentum Japan’s  Nikkei 225  climbed  0.8% , led by chip and artificial intelligence-related stocks. Taiwan’s benchmark rose  1.4% , South Korea’s  Kospi  jumped  1.8% , and Australia’s market added  1.1% , with all three touching record highs. Investors were upbeat ahead of  TSMC’s Q3 earnings report , following  ASML’s stronger-than-expected results  and order book, driven by robust AI chip demand. Hong Kong and mainland Chinese shares also recovered from early losses despite ongoing trade concerns. Wall Street Strength Lifts Sentiment US stocks ended higher ov...

Asian equities staged a mild recovery on Wednesday, buoyed by dovish signals from  Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell  and solid earnings from major U.S. banks. However, renewed trade tensions between Washington and Beijing kept risk appetite in check. Fed Pivot Speculation Reignites Market Optimism Powell hinted that the  Fed’s tightening cycle may be nearing its end , suggesting that its balance sheet reduction program—known as quantitative tightening (QT)—could soon conclude. Markets interpreted the comments as dovish,  pricing in roughly 48 basis points of rate cuts by December , with ANZ economists projecting  25bp cuts in both October and December . The remarks came as Wall Street rebounded on upbeat bank earnings and after the  IMF raised its 2025 global growth forecast , providing further relief to investors navigating a volatile macro backdrop. Asia-Pacific Markets Rebound The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index  rose  0.45% , while J...

  Global Rally Sets the Tone Asian equities looked set to extend a worldwide rally on Friday after US inflation data and a cooling labor market reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut rates next week. Futures for Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong all pointed higher following record closes for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 overnight. A global stocks gauge also notched a fresh high. US equity contracts were flat in early Asia trade. Tech Boost in US Markets Microsoft gained in post-market trading after striking a new agreement with OpenAI, while Adobe rose on upbeat revenue guidance. Hyundai, meanwhile, flagged delays at a US battery plant due to labor shortages following an immigration raid. Inflation and Jobs Data Pave the Way for Fed Easing The August US consumer price index showed core inflation — excluding food and energy — rose  0.3% month-on-month and 3.1% year-on-year , in line with forecasts. At the same time, jobless claims spiked to their highest in n...

The US dollar and Treasuries weakened in Asian trading on Tuesday after President Donald Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, escalating concerns about central bank independence and rattling confidence in US assets. Trump’s Intervention Shakes Market Confidence Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he had removed Cook on allegations of making false statements on mortgage applications. Her term, originally due to end in 2038, has now been cut short, potentially accelerating the president’s ability to reshape the Fed’s policy stance. The move underscores Trump’s increasingly combative relationship with the Fed. He has repeatedly threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell — though lacking the legal authority except “for cause.” Powell’s current term as chair expires in May 2026. “ There’s no credibility. That’s the basis of the US being the safest investment in the world. If you’re a responsible investor, it gives you pause, ” said Bart Wakabayashi, ...

Asian markets eased on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of this week’s  Federal Reserve symposium in Jackson Hole , while European futures ticked higher on fresh diplomatic signals in the  Russia-Ukraine conflict . Asia Market Moves Japan’s Nikkei  hit a new  intraday record high  before pulling back, closing  0.5% lower . SoftBank shares plunged 5%  after announcing a  US$2 billion investment in Intel , dragging the index. MSCI Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan)  dipped  0.2% , following mild losses on Wall Street overnight. Oil prices  slipped: US crude fell  0.2% to US$63.29 . Gold inched higher  at  US$3,334.9/oz , showing safe-haven demand. European Futures Higher Optimism rose after  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy  said security guarantees for his country may be finalized within  10 days  following talks with  US President Donald Trump  and European leaders. Euro Stoxx 50 fu...

  Asia: Cautious Trade Before Jackson Hole Asian equities eased on Tuesday as traders stayed defensive ahead of the  Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium (Aug 21–23) . MSCI Asia ex-Japan : -0.2% Nikkei 225 : Hit an intraday record before closing -0.5%, dragged by  SoftBank (-5%)  after it announced a  $2B investment in Intel . US dollar : Held firm at  ¥147.78 ; dollar index at  98.17  (+0.2% overnight). Markets are pricing an  83.6% chance of a 25 bps cut in September , but remain cautious on Powell’s tone at Jackson Hole. Europe: Optimism on Ukraine Security Talks European futures ticked higher on optimism over progress in  Ukraine–Russia peace discussions . Euro Stoxx 50 futures : +0.3% DAX futures : +0.2% FTSE futures : +0.3% Ukrainian President  Zelenskiy  said security guarantees could be finalized within 10 days following talks with  Trump and European leaders . Trump also said he was arranging a  Putin–Zel...

Asian equities are set for a cautious open after  stronger-than-expected US wholesale inflation  curbed Wall Street’s momentum and lifted Treasury yields, trimming bets on aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts. Futures:  Australia & Japan point to gains, Hong Kong futures lower. Wall Street:  S&P 500 flat after a 30% rally since April lows;  Intel  surged on reports of a potential US government stake;  Applied Materials  gave a weak forecast after hours. Rates & FX:  US 2-year Treasury yields +6bps to  3.73% ; September Fed rate cut odds slipped to ~90%. USD rose; Bitcoin pulled back from record highs. Inflation Data:  July PPI rose at the fastest pace in 3 years, reflecting higher import costs from tariffs. CPI earlier in the week suggested milder pass-through; Fed still expected to cut next month but the strength in wholesale prices could temper the pace. Regional focus: China:  July retail sales and industrial out...

Markets React Positively to Trade Truce Asian equities rose on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a 90-day pause on tariffs with China, removing a key near-term risk for investors ahead of a closely watched U.S. inflation report. The  MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  gained 0.4%. Japan’s  Nikkei 225  surged to a record high as trading resumed after a public holiday. The U.S. dollar edged lower, while gold climbed 0.4%. The tariff truce pushes the deadline to  November 10 , avoiding an immediate hike in duties on Chinese imports such as rare earth magnets and certain technologies. “All other elements of the Agreement will remain the same,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. Focus Turns to US Inflation Data Attention now shifts to July’s  Consumer Price Index (CPI)  report, expected later Tuesday. Economists project a  0.3% rise in core CPI , which strips out food and energy. Markets are pricing in about a  90% probability of a Septembe...

Market Mood: Risk-On Asian markets rallied for the  second straight session  as traders  bet big on Fed rate cuts , following  disappointing US job data  and political drama at the US labor office. MSCI Asia ex-Japan : ▲0.6% Nikkei 225 : ▲0.5% (bouncing back from its steepest fall in 2 months) Dollar vs Yen : ▼0.1% to ¥146.96 Fed Rate Cut Odds  (Sept):  ↑ to 94%  (from 63% on July 28) Fed in Focus Markets are now pricing in  two quarter-point cuts by year-end . “Maybe not in September, but certainly this year,” said NAB’s Rodrigo Catril, as parts of the US economy show weakness. Adding fuel to the fire: Trump fired the head of US labor stats  after weak payroll data. He’ll also get to appoint a new Fed governor , raising  fears of politicized rate policy . Oil & Commodities Check Brent Crude : Flat at  US$68.76 US Crude : ▼0.02% at  US$66.28 Spot Gold : ▲ slightly to  US$3,381.4/oz Bitcoin : Holding gains at ...

Asian markets fell on Tuesday as investors reassessed the long-term impact of the new U.S.-EU trade deal and the reality that  higher tariffs are here to stay , raising concerns over global growth and inflation. Key Market Moves MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan:  Down 0.7% Japan’s Nikkei:  -0.8% China Blue Chips:  -0.1% Euro:  Flat at  US$1.1592  after its biggest drop since May (-1.3% overnight) Brent Oil:  +0.1% to  US$70.10 , following a 2.3% jump Monday Tariff Shock The U.S.-EU pact avoided the worst-case scenario but imposed a  15% levy , up sharply from the 1–2% rates before Trump took office. Trump warned of a potential  15–20% “world tariff”  on countries without deals, the highest global rate since the 1930s. JPMorgan economists said the move is “a significant tax increase on EU exports” and “unwinds a century of U.S. leadership in free trade.” Other Market Drivers Oil Prices:  Spiked on Trump’s 10–12 day deadline for R...