MONEY MASTER

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...

US equities declined sharply as  surging oil prices and persistent inflation concerns  weighed on investor sentiment, following the Federal Reserve’s decision to  hold interest rates steady . Major Indices Fall Amid Inflation Fears Wall Street closed lower across the board: Dow Jones Industrial Average  fell  1.6% S&P 500 Index  dropped  1.4% Nasdaq Composite Index  declined  1.5% The selloff was driven by a combination of  rising energy prices and a hawkish Fed outlook , which reinforced expectations of  higher-for-longer interest rates . Oil Surge Fuels Market Volatility Energy markets spiked following renewed attacks on  Middle East oil infrastructure . Brent crude  jumped  5.4% to US$108.96 WTI crude  rose  1.8% to US$97.98 Higher oil prices are raising concerns about  inflation persistence , particularly as supply disruptions threaten global energy flows. Fed Signals Prolonged Inflation Risks T...

Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday as investors adopted a  wait-and-see approach ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision , while ongoing tensions in the Middle East continued to shape the broader inflation outlook. Gold Under Pressure Ahead of Fed Guidance Spot gold declined  0.4% to US$4,984 per ounce , slipping below the key  US$5,000 level , while US gold futures showed a similar drop. The near-term direction for gold is increasingly tied to  Fed forward guidance , particularly whether policymakers signal: Potential rate cuts later this year , or A shift toward  prolonged higher interest rates Higher interest rates typically  weigh on gold , as they increase the appeal of yield-bearing assets. Geopolitical Risks Provide Underlying Support Despite the pullback, gold continues to draw support from  elevated geopolitical risks , particularly the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the US. The  Strait of Hormuz remains large...

Quick Summary Gold rose 0.5% to US$5,174  amid US tariff uncertainty Markets expect  three Fed rate cuts in 2026 Silver and platinum also advanced Traders watching key resistance near  US$5,205–US$5,244 Safe-Haven Demand Returns Gold prices rebounded in Asian trading as investors sought safety following fresh confusion over US trade policy. Spot gold:  US$5,174.76 (+0.5%) US April futures:  US$5,192.20 (+0.3%) The move comes after the US Supreme Court struck down a batch of tariff measures introduced by President  Donald Trump , creating renewed policy uncertainty. Although Washington began collecting a temporary 10% global import tariff, officials are reportedly working to raise it to 15%, adding to market confusion. Key point: Policy uncertainty is reviving demand for defensive assets. Fed Outlook Supports Bullion Two US Federal Reserve officials signalled  no urgency to adjust interest rates . Markets now expect: Three 25-basis-point cuts this year ...

A closely watched US inflation report due Thursday is expected to  reinforce the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance , with price pressures easing only gradually and still running above the central bank’s comfort zone. What the Market Expects Economists forecast that the  personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index , the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, will show  little change in momentum . Core PCE (ex-food & energy): +0.2% MoM +2.8% YoY Headline PCE: +0.2% MoM +2.8% YoY If confirmed, inflation would be  moving sideways , not accelerating — but still  well above the Fed’s 2% target . Why This Matters for Policy Core PCE tends to adjust more slowly than CPI, and recent data suggest inflation cooled only modestly toward the end of 2025. While consumer inflation closed December at  2.7% , PCE readings point to  stickiness rather than renewed disinflation . Economists note that: Inflation ran  hot but stable  in late 2025 Seasonal adj...

Asian markets traded mixed on Friday as Wall Street’s pullback and cooling commodity prices tempered sentiment ahead of key central bank meetings and U.S. earnings season. The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index  slipped 0.2%, paring weekly gains that have put the region on course for one of its strongest years in a decade.  Hong Kong  shares led losses, down 1.1%, while  South Korea’s KOSPI  rose 1.7% and  Australia  eased 0.1%. Regional strength this year has been underpinned by robust  AI hardware demand  and a surge in manufacturing orders linked to  U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff and industrial policies . Wall Street and Fed Outlook U.S. markets ended lower overnight, with traders booking profits in high-momentum trades including  gold, silver, crypto, and AI stocks , after a sharp multi-week rally. Futures pointed to a steadier tone, with  S&P 500 e-minis  up 0.2% in early Asia trade. The  10-year U...

Asian equities are set to rise Thursday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street as  AI-linked megacaps  fueled another round of record highs for U.S. benchmarks. Wall Street Rally Extends on AI Optimism U.S. stocks advanced Wednesday, led by strong demand in technology shares: S&P 500 Index : +0.6% Nasdaq 100 : +1.2% U.S.-listed Chinese stocks : +0.9%, ahead of mainland market reopening after Golden Week. Nvidia (NVDA.US)  led the gains after CEO Jensen Huang said demand for  Blackwell chips  remains “really, really high.”  Cisco Systems (CSCO.US)  rose as it stepped up competition with  Broadcom (AVGO.US)  in AI data-center networking. UBS Global Wealth Management’s  Mark Haefele  said valuations remain reasonable: “With price-earnings ratios for today’s tech giants still well below dotcom-era levels, the bull market remains intact.” A gauge of U.S. small-cap stocks also climbed 1%, suggesting broader participation beyond mega...

Cautious Gains Across Asia Asian shares moved higher on Tuesday while gold climbed to another record, as investors weighed the growing risk of a US government shutdown that could delay key economic data. The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index  rose 0.5%, putting it on track for a  5.6% monthly gain — its best in a year . Japan’s  Nikkei slipped 0.3% , extending a three-day decline, while traders looked ahead to political developments at home. China’s  PMI remained in contraction  at 49.8 in September, signaling continued weakness in manufacturing, though slightly better than August’s 49.4 reading. Shutdown Clouds Fed Outlook US Vice President  JD Vance  warned that the government appeared “headed to a shutdown” as talks between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders stalled. A closure would halt the release of this week’s crucial employment report, leaving only partial indicators such as the  JOLTS job openings data  due later Tues...

 U.S. Government Funding Standoff Asian equities mostly gained on Monday while the U.S. dollar eased, as investors weighed the risk of a U.S. government shutdown. President Donald Trump is set to meet Congressional leaders later in the day in a last-minute bid to extend government funding. Without an agreement, a shutdown would begin Wednesday — coinciding with the start of  new tariffs on heavy trucks, patented drugs, and other goods . A prolonged closure could complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy decisions, as official economic data releases such as payrolls would be delayed. “If the shutdown lasts beyond the Fed meeting, the Fed will rely on private data,” Bank of America wrote, adding this could slightly reduce the chances of an October rate cut. Fed Outlook and Economic Impact Markets currently price a  90% chance of a Fed cut in October , and a  65% probability of another in December . Analysts estimate that each week of shutdown could shave just 0.1 percent...

  Key Takeaway: U.S. equities reversed early weakness to end Tuesday at fresh record highs, with investors betting that weaker labor data and large downward payroll revisions will accelerate the Federal Reserve’s rate-cut cycle. The S&P 500 gained 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% to a record, while the Nasdaq 100 added 0.3%, just shy of a new peak. Market Performance S&P 500 : +0.3% to close at a record high. Dow Jones Industrial Average : +0.4%, also at a record close. Nasdaq 100 : +0.3%, narrowly missing a fresh record. Gains were led by  Alphabet (GOOGL US) , after an executive projected a US$58 billion revenue boost in its cloud unit by 2027. Drivers: Jobs Revision and Fed Outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported payrolls would be revised  down by 911,000 jobs  for the 12 months through March. This follows last week’s weaker labor market data, reinforcing expectations for a dovish Fed shift. Northlight Asset Management CIO Chris Zac...

U.S. equities pulled back Monday, trimming Friday’s  Jackson Hole rally  as traders balanced hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts with caution ahead of key inflation data. Fed Outlook Chair  Jerome Powell  signaled the Fed may pivot soon, noting that “the balance of risks appears to be shifting” toward a weaker job market restraining inflation. Futures markets : 86% odds of a September cut, up from 73% pre-speech (CME FedWatch). Key risk:  July PCE inflation report  due Friday, the Fed’s preferred gauge, which could test easing bets. Market Moves S&P 500 : lower Nasdaq Composite : lower (−0.6% last week despite Friday’s rebound) Dow Jones Industrial Average : lower Washington Watch Intel precedent may expand : Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council director, suggested the U.S. could take more equity stakes in domestic companies, echoing last week’s  $8.9 billion Intel investment . Trump later confirmed the idea, raising the prospect of further sta...

Asian markets slid Thursday as disappointing Chinese economic data and a steep drop in copper prices weighed on sentiment, while investors digested fresh U.S. trade moves and the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates steady. Key Drivers: China Slowdown:  Hong Kong and mainland China shares led losses after July PMI readings came in weaker than expected, signaling slower economic activity. Copper Prices:  Copper futures plunged  19.4%  after the U.S. announced a  50% tariff on copper pipes and wiring , though raw copper materials were excluded. US-South Korea Deal:  The Korean won rose 0.3% after President Trump announced a trade pact imposing a 15% tariff on Korean imports in exchange for  US$350B in U.S. investments  and  US$100B in energy purchases . Global Market Moves: MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan:  -0.7%, still on track for a fourth monthly gain. NASDAQ Futures:  +1.2%, buoyed by strong Microsoft and Meta earnings. S&P 500...

  Stocks Pull Back, Bonds Rally The S&P 500 broke its six-session winning run on Tuesday as traders turned cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision and ongoing U.S.-China tariff negotiations. Treasury bonds rallied, with 30-year yields falling 10 basis points following a strong $44 billion auction. Tariff Truce in Focus Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said talks with China are ongoing to extend the current tariff truce, with President Trump making the final call. An extra 90-day extension is on the table. Despite signs of progress, markets showed little reaction, echoing the muted response to the recent U.S.-EU deal. Data-Driven Market Investors are shifting focus to hard economic data, including Wednesday’s Fed announcement, Friday’s jobs report, and upcoming inflation metrics. U.S. consumer confidence improved, while job openings declined slightly but remained at healthy levels. Fed Outlook The Fed has kept rates steady at  4.25%–4.5%  since December...