MONEY MASTER

Asian markets may look stable, but the underlying story has changed and investors need to pay attention. Asian stocks steady despite peace deal progress Oil falls to  ~US$75–78/barrel US-Iran ceasefire extended by 60 days Nikkei hits  record highs on AI momentum US stocks fall as  rate hike expectations rise Bond yields  moving higher again The oil story is getting better, but the interest-rate story is becoming more challenging. Oil Is No Longer the Main Risk With the peace deal in place: Supply disruption fears are easing Oil flows are expected to gradually resume Risk premium is being priced out   Lower oil = easing inflation pressure This is a positive shift for markets especially for energy-importing economies. But Rates Are Taking Over At the same time: The Fed is leaning  more hawkish Markets are pricing  possible rate hikes Bond yields are rising Higher rates are now the dominant driver This is why: US equities pulled back Growth stocks are und...

Asian stocks opened lower on Wednesday, following fresh signs that the  Federal Reserve might delay cutting interest rates , while  new US tariff threats  added pressure to global market sentiment. Key Market Movements MSCI Asia Index  down  0.4% Japan’s Topix  down  0.4% Australia’s ASX 200  dropped  1% S&P 500 Futures  down  0.3% Hang Seng Futures  slightly up  0.4% Why the Drop? 1.  Mixed US Inflation Data Core US inflation (excluding food and energy) rose  0.2% in June , in line with expectations. While some prices (like cars) fell,  categories hit by Trump’s new tariffs—like toys and appliances—saw big price jumps . → This raised concerns that tariffs could  temporarily lift inflation , making the Fed more cautious. 2.  Fed Rate Cuts in Doubt Federal Reserve officials, including Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan, hinted that the Fed may  hold off on rate cuts  for now. The market ...

Asian equities are poised for a pullback on Thursday, following a broad decline in US markets and increasing caution in the bond market. Futures for share indexes in Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong dipped early Thursday, after the S&P 500 dropped 0.9% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 fell 1.6% on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the yen steadied after dropping to its lowest level against the dollar in nearly three months, amid fears of potential intervention by Japanese officials. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose , pushing the dollar higher as traders scaled back their expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts . Tesla's after-hours rally of 8% on robust earnings provided a silver lining for tech stocks, with an ETF tracking the Nasdaq 100 gaining 0.4% in post-market trading. Bond yields in Australia also climbed early Thursday, mirroring movements in US treasuries, as concerns over the pace of rate reductions by the Fed grow. The term premium on 10-year US Treasury notes reached it...