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Oil jumps above US$107 as Asia sells off, Fed and BOJ rate decisions now collide with a fresh energy shock Markets are opening the week under renewed pressure.  Brent crude has jumped about 3% to above US$107 , Asian equities are falling sharply, and U.S. Treasury yields remain close to 5%. At the same time, investors are preparing for possible rate hikes from  both the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan this week .  For investors, the central question has become: Can central banks contain inflation without causing a much larger slowdown when energy prices are surging at the same time?  30-second market snapshot Market / Asset Latest 🇺🇸 S&P 500 7,656.98, +0.86% Friday 🇺🇸 Dow Jones +0.98% Friday 🇺🇸 Nasdaq +0.96% Friday 🇲🇾 FBM KLCI 1,686.74, -1.10% Friday 🇯🇵 Nikkei -1.7% Monday morning 🇰🇷 Kospi -3.3% Monday morning 🌏 MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.8% 🛢️ Brent crude ~US$107.36, +2.6% 🛢️ WTI crude ~US$102.48, +2.4% 🇺🇸 U.S. 10Y Treasury ~4.97% 🥇 Gold ~US$4,336...

Oil breaks US$100, Wall Street retreats and bond yields rise, inflation is becoming the market’s biggest risk again Global markets are starting Thursday in a more defensive position.  Brent crude has broken above US$100 a barrel , U.S. Treasury yields are pushing higher, and Wall Street fell for a third straight session as investors reassess whether central banks may need to keep tightening rather than easing. For Malaysian investors, the key chain today is increasingly clear: Oil → inflation → interest rates → bond yields → USD/MYR → Bursa valuations. 30-second market snapshot Market / Asset Latest 🇺🇸 S&P 500 7,636.36, -0.48% 🇺🇸 Dow Jones 52,380.66, -0.77% 🇺🇸 Nasdaq 26,253.34, -0.64% 🇲🇾 FBM KLCI 1,714.34, virtually flat 💵 USD/MYR ~4.06 🇺🇸 U.S. 10Y Treasury ~4.84% 🇺🇸 U.S. 2Y Treasury ~4.42% 🥇 Gold ~US$4,396/oz 🛢️ Brent crude US$101.21/bbl 🛢️ WTI crude US$96.05/bbl ₿ Bitcoin ~US$79,300 🇯🇵 Nikkei ~64,760, -0.6% this morning Brent jumped about  3.4% Wednesda...

Key Takeaways A single statement from Nvidia "our road map is intact" helped restore confidence across global AI stocks. Technology shares rebounded , with the Nasdaq 100 rising 1.3% as investors viewed Nvidia's comments as reassurance that AI spending remains on track. The AI investment story is shifting from valuation concerns to earnings sustainability. Investors are closely watching upcoming earnings from Samsung and AI infrastructure companies  for confirmation that demand remains strong. The next phase of the AI rally will depend less on hype and more on continued capital spending and profit growth. Market Insight Sometimes, a single sentence can move billions of dollars. That was exactly what happened after  Nvidia  reassured investors that  "our road map is intact,"  responding to concerns over reports of delays involving AI server deployments. The comment quickly eased fears that the AI infrastructure boom might be slowing. Technology stocks rebounded a...

Key Takeaways The S&P 500 delivered its strongest quarterly performance since 2020 , adding more than  US$8 trillion  in market value over the past three months. Technology and semiconductor stocks led the rally , with chipmakers recording their best quarter on record as AI-driven demand remained robust. Resilient US economic data  reinforced optimism that corporate earnings can continue supporting elevated equity valuations. Lower oil prices and easing Middle East tensions  improved investor sentiment, while analysts expect any market pullback to be a pause rather than the end of the bull market. Large-cap AI leaders and mid-cap cyclical stocks  remain among analysts' preferred investment themes. Market Overview US equities finished the second quarter on a strong note, extending one of the market's most remarkable recoveries in recent years. The  S&P 500  completed its  best quarterly performance since 2020 , while the  Nasdaq 100 ...

The Dow Jones hit a record high driven by industrial and healthcare stocks, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped as weakness in Big Tech outweighed strong earnings from Micron. This is no longer a broad rally, it’s a rotation away from Big Tech into other sectors. What’s Really Happening The market is splitting into two directions: Winners (Old Economy / Defensive): Caterpillar surged on industrial strength Merck rose on M&A optimism UnitedHealth gained on stability Losers (Big Tech / AI Leaders): Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia all declined Pressure came from pricing concerns and stretched valuations Even strong earnings from Micron which jumped sharply were not enough to lift the broader tech sector. Why? This shift highlights a key change in market leadership: Investors are  taking profits from AI winners Capital is rotating into  non-tech, value and defensive sectors Inflation (PCE at 4.1%) is keeping  rate pressure alive In short: The AI trade is still stron...

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...

Intel Corp  has emerged as one of the  hottest stocks in the market , delivering a stunning rally that added over  US$100 billion in market value  within days. Record Rally Signals Renewed Confidence Intel shares have surged  51% over eight consecutive sessions , marking the  strongest stretch in its history  and its best weekly gain since 2000. Year-to-date, the stock is now up  ~69% , building on last year’s  84% rally , as investors increasingly bet on a  successful turnaround strategy . Strategic Moves Drive Momentum The rally was fueled by a series of positive developments: A  US$14.2 billion buyback  of its Ireland chip facility stake from  Apollo Global Management Participation in  Elon Musk’s Terafab project , supplying chips for next-generation technologies A partnership with  Alphabet  to supply future  Xeon processors for data centres These moves signal a shift toward  expansion and stra...

US markets extended losses as  rising oil prices and a sharp sell-off in tech stocks weighed on sentiment , overshadowing dovish signals from the Federal Reserve. Key Market Moves S&P 500 fell 0.4% to 6,343.72 Nasdaq dropped 0.7% to 20,794.64 Dow Jones rose 0.1% to 45,216.14 Key takeaway: Tech weakness and oil-driven inflation fears are dragging the broader market lower. What’s Driving the Sell-Off? 1. Oil Prices Surge Again Crude oil jumped  over 5% to around US$105 Driven by ongoing  US–Iran–Israel conflict Higher oil = higher inflation risk = pressure on equities 2. Tech Stocks Lead the Decline Heavy losses in AI, chip, and data-related names: Applied Digital : -13.5% AXT Inc : -13% Micron Technology : -9.9% Arm Holdings : -5% Intel : -4.5% Super Micro Computer : -4.1% AI and semiconductor stocks are facing profit-taking and valuation concerns 3. Fed Comments Not Enough to Lift Sentiment Jerome Powell  signaled no immediate rate hikes despite rising energy pri...

Singapore markets opened marginally higher, but underlying sentiment remains cautious as  Middle East tensions threaten economic growth and inflation stability . Market Holds Steady Despite Rising Risks The  FTSE Singapore Straits Times Index  edged up  0.05% to 4,899.83 , reflecting a  balanced market tone : Advancers: 57 | Decliners: 47 Trading activity remained relatively muted This suggests investors are  waiting for clearer macro signals  amid global uncertainty. Global Headwinds: Oil and Tech Weigh on US Markets On Wall Street, markets were mixed: Nasdaq Composite Index  fell  0.7% S&P 500 Index  declined  0.4% Dow Jones Industrial Average  rose  0.1% Losses in  technology stocks  and rising oil prices offset relatively  dovish comments from  Jerome Powell , who signalled no immediate need for rate hikes. Singapore Growth Outlook Faces Downside Risks RHB flagged  rising downside risks to ...