MONEY MASTER

Singapore shares opened slightly lower on Friday, even as  US tech stocks surged to fresh highs , with investors balancing  AI-driven optimism against geopolitical and trade uncertainties . STI Edges Lower Amid Mixed Market Breadth The  FTSE Straits Times Index  slipped  0.12% to 5,001.82  in early trade. Market breadth was mixed: Advancers: 88 Decliners: 79 This reflects a  cautious tone , despite strong global cues. Wall Street Hits Record Highs on AI Momentum US equities extended their rally, led by technology stocks: Nasdaq Composite   +0.4% (record high) S&P 500   +0.3% (record high) Dow Jones Industrial Average   +0.2% The Nasdaq marked its  12th consecutive gain , its longest streak since 2009. The rally was driven by AI-related developments, led by  Advanced Micro Devices , which surged  7.8%  after securing a  French government AI deal . Other tech gainers included  Oracle ,  Microsoft , an...

Summary Wall Street investors are increasingly  rotating money out of US equities and into global markets , drawn by  lower valuations, policy stimulus abroad, and a weaker US dollar . While the US remains a core holding, its dominance is no longer seen as unchallenged. What’s Driving the Shift After years of heavy concentration in US mega-cap tech, investors are broadening their horizons as  America’s valuation premium narrows . Key catalysts include: Fiscal stimulus in Japan Surging defence and infrastructure spending in Europe Attractive valuations across emerging markets A weaker US dollar boosting foreign equity returns Keith Lerner of Truist summed it up:  “It’s no longer just a US story.” Global Markets Take the Lead Several international benchmarks have  outperformed US indexes in 2026 so far , including: Stoxx Europe 600 Kospi MSCI Emerging Markets Index Japan’s rally gained further momentum after Prime Minister  Sanae Takaichi  secured a deci...

US equities closed mixed, but  headline strength hid meaningful internal rotation . The  S&P 500 Index  closed at a  record 6,978.60 , lifted by semiconductors, cloud infrastructure and megacap tech. Meanwhile, the  Dow Jones Industrial Average  fell nearly  0.8% , dragged down by a collapse in managed-care stocks. This was  not a risk-on / risk-off day  — it was a  sector verdict day . What Drove the Record Close 1. AI + Semiconductor Momentum Is Re-asserting Itself Leadership came decisively from  AI-linked compute and memory , reinforcing the idea that  2026 earnings expectations are being rewritten higher  in this segment. Key movers: Micron Technology  +5.4% Intel  +3.4% Amazon  +2.6% Microsoft  +2.2% This confirms a  market preference for AI enablers with visible revenue , not speculative narratives. Notably,  memory (MU)  continues to outperform compute, suggesting investors se...

  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...

US equities faltered in late trading Wednesday after  Nvidia’s revenue outlook fell short of lofty investor expectations , cooling enthusiasm around the artificial intelligence (AI) trade that has propelled markets to record highs. Nvidia Fails to Clear a High Bar Q3 Guidance : Nvidia projected  ~US$54 billion in revenue , in line with consensus but below bullish market whispers. China Factor : Forecast excluded data center revenue from China, leaving uncertainty over geopolitical headwinds. Market Reaction : Shares slid  2.5% after hours , dragging down tech peers despite an announced  US$60 billion buyback . Context : Nvidia has added  ~US$2 trillion in market value since April , making results a bellwether for the AI-driven rally. Market Moves The  S&P 500 ETF (US$660 billion AUM)  dipped after briefly touching a fresh record earlier in the session. S&P 500  closed up just  0.2% , highlighting investor caution ahead of Nvidia’s num...

U.S. equities held steady on Friday, while Treasury yields edged lower and global markets were calm. Investors are in  wait-and-see mode , watching for new corporate earnings, tariff headlines, and the Fed’s next move. Macro Highlights Consumer sentiment  improved in July and  inflation expectations declined , according to the University of Michigan. But risks remain: U.S.  single-family homebuilding  fell to an 11-month low in June due to  high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty . Retail sales and jobless claims  earlier in the week showed modest economic strength, helping push stocks to record highs — until  Trump’s tariff talk  brought fresh concerns. Global Markets Snapshot S&P 500 : Flat (-0.01%) Nasdaq : +0.05% Dow : -0.32% MSCI World Index : +0.13% (hit record intraday) Europe (STOXX 600) : Flat for the day, slightly down for the week U.S. Tariff Concerns Trump is reportedly pushing for a 15–20% minimum tariff  on the EU,...

  1. Global Markets U.S. equities continued their upward climb with the  S&P 500 (+0.54%) ,  Nasdaq (+0.75%) , and  Dow Jones (+0.52%) all closing higher on July 17. Key Drivers: Strong Q2 results from  PepsiCo (+7.45%) ,  United Airlines ,  Taiwan Semiconductor , and  GE Aerospace  boosted investor sentiment. Markets shrugged off President Trump’s proposed  10–15% tariffs on over 150 countries  and his criticism of Fed Chair Powell. Retail sales  rose  0.6% MoM , beating forecasts and reversing May’s decline. Jobless claims  fell, suggesting consumer resilience despite tariff noise. US 10-year Treasury yield  climbed to  4.46% , reflecting expectations of slower Fed rate cuts amid robust data. 2. Malaysia Markets   Macro Snapshot : USD/MYR  closed at  4.2420  (+20 pips) amid tariff concerns. MGS 10-year yield  dipped to  3.43%  (-0.29%). KLCI  rose to  1,520....

Despite Wall Street's bullish momentum, Asian equity markets slipped on Friday as  renewed U.S. tariff threats  triggered caution among investors ahead of the  critical July 9 negotiation deadline . The regional MSCI Asia-Pacific Index declined 0.3%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index underperformed, sliding 1.4%. Tariff Risk Returns to the Forefront President Trump signaled the possible rollout of  “unilateral tariff letters”  to trading partners starting Friday — a move seen as a pressure tactic to accelerate trade talks. With the 90-day suspension window on April’s tariffs expiring next week, the rhetoric from Washington has taken on a sharper tone. “We are probably going to be sending some letters out… saying what they are going to pay to do business with the U.S.,” Trump stated, raising the stakes for key U.S. trading partners in Asia and Europe. While  U.S. equities extended gains  after a strong June payrolls report, the  Asian markets respo...

The year 2024 was marked by  transformative shifts in global financial markets , with standout performances from  Bitcoin ,  U.S. equities , and  gold , while other assets, like crude oil, faced challenges. Key Market Highlights 1. Bitcoin’s 136% Surge: A Digital Gold Rush Performance : Bitcoin soared  136.88% , becoming the  top-performing asset of 2024 . Drivers : Institutional Investment : Increased adoption for its  inflation-hedging properties . Bitcoin ETFs : Approval in the U.S. improved liquidity and accessibility. Technological Advancements : Lightning Network upgrades attracted long-term investors. Trump’s Re-Election : Analysts expect  lenient crypto policies , including potential tax reductions and compatibility initiatives with the U.S. dollar. Outlook : Analysts warn of potential  regulatory scrutiny in 2025 , but Bitcoin’s appeal may strengthen if inflationary pressures persist globally. 2. U.S. Equities Soar on Tech Leadership...

US stocks surged to   all-time highs   as the   Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire agreement   eased geopolitical tensions. The   S&P 500   climbed   0.6% , marking its   52nd record high   in 2024, while the   Nasdaq 100   and   Dow Jones Industrial Average   rose   0.6%   and   0.3% , respectively. Key Drivers Geopolitical Relief : Investors welcomed news of a  cease-fire  between  Israel  and  Hezbollah , fueling market confidence and extending gains into a  seventh consecutive session . Trump Tariff Plans : Wall Street largely shrugged off  Donald Trump’s tariff proposals  on Canada, Mexico, and China. Analysts view the move as a  negotiating tactic  rather than a significant policy shift. Sector Performance : Tech stocks , led by  Microsoft , outperformed due to lower exposure to tariff risks. Automakers like  General Motors  and  Ford ...