MONEY MASTER

Wall Street ended Thursday lower as  renewed U.S.-China trade tensions  and  concerns over bad loans at several U.S. banks  overshadowed upbeat earnings from  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) . Market Overview All three major U.S. stock indices closed in the red: Dow Jones Industrial Average  fell  301.07 points (0.7%)  to  45,952.24 S&P 500 Index  slipped  0.6%  to  6,629.07 Nasdaq Composite Index  lost  0.5%  to  22,562.54 The declines came amid heightened uncertainty around trade relations and banking sector health, leading to a shift toward safe-haven assets such as  gold  and  silver , which both surged to record highs. Trade Tensions Add to Market Volatility The  U.S.-China trade dispute  reignited after  Beijing imposed new export controls on rare earth metals , key materials for electric vehicles and high-tech products. In response,  President ...

The  International Monetary Fund (IMF)  raised its growth forecast for the  Asia-Pacific region  but cautioned that escalating  U.S.–China trade tensions  could derail momentum in one of the world’s most interconnected regions. Asia’s Resilient Growth Amid Tariff Headwinds According to  Krishna Srinivasan , Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, Asia’s economy is expected to  grow 4.5% in 2025 , slightly down from 4.6% in 2024 but  0.6 percentage point higher than the IMF’s April estimate . Growth is projected to moderate to  4.1% in 2026 . “The region is once again set to contribute about 60% of global growth, both this year and in 2026,” Srinivasan said. Despite facing U.S. tariffs, Asia’s economic activity has remained  stronger than expected , driven by  front-loaded exports ,  intra-regional trade , and a  technology boom  led by  artificial intelligence (AI)  demand in  South Kore...

U.S. Treasury yields sank on Thursday, with the  10-year note closing at 3.976% , its  lowest level of 2025 , marking a significant break below the psychologically important 4% line. This is only the second time yields have fallen below that threshold this year—the last being in April, following President Trump’s tariff announcement. Yields Drop as Economic Weakness Emerges The decline in yields comes as investors increasingly seek safety amid  weak U.S. economic data ,  rising banking concerns , and  renewed U.S.–China trade tensions . New York Fed  data showed a sharp contraction in services activity across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Philadelphia Fed  manufacturing activity dropped to a six-month low. “These are not big hitters, but they point to macro weakness,” said  Padhraic Garvey , head of research for the Americas at ING. Market Dynamics: Fed Cuts, Inflation, and Shutdown Effects The move lower in yields reflects  growing ...

US stocks posted gains on Wednesday after a volatile session, as investors balanced optimism over corporate earnings against escalating US-China trade tensions. Despite intraday swings, major indexes finished higher — underscoring market resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty. Market Overview: Volatility Returns, But Buyers Hold Ground The  S&P 500  jumped as much as  1.2%  early in the session before paring gains, then rebounded again by the close. The moves reflected a familiar pattern of  “buy-the-dip” activity  that has defined much of 2025’s rally. Following one of the strongest six-month runs for US equities since the 1950s, investors have treated recent pullbacks as  healthy consolidations , supported by expectations of  further rate cuts  from the  Federal Reserve . “Investors who are buying the dip are still driving the action, keeping sentiment firm even as technical indicators show signs of strain,” said  Mark Hacke...

 Market Overview Singapore shares opened lower on Thursday as regional markets digested mixed global cues, while Wall Street closed higher overnight, led by gains in technology and banking stocks. FTSE Straits Times Index (STI):  4,367.77 (-0.01%) Volume / Value:  81.18M / S$111.02M Advancers / Decliners:  77 / 72 Global Highlights Nasdaq and S&P 500 Advance on Tech and Bank Strength US markets closed higher on Wednesday, with the  Nasdaq Composite  up  0.7%  to 22,670.08 and the  S&P 500  rising  0.4%  to 6,671.06. The rally was fueled by strong results from key players such as  Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) , which gained  9.4% after HSBC raised its price target. Bank of America (BAC)  and  Morgan Stanley (MS)  also rose  4.4%  and  4.7% , respectively, after upbeat Q3 earnings. Precious Metals Surge as US-China Trade Tensions Escalate Trade tensions resurfaced after Washington a...

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC)  just delivered a blowout  39% surge in revenue for Q2 , exceeding analyst forecasts and reinforcing its position as a  cornerstone of the AI boom .  Q2 Highlights: Revenue:  NT$934 billion (≈US$32 billion), beating the NT$928 billion analyst consensus. Sales Drivers:  Strong demand from  Nvidia  and  Apple  for high-performance chips powering AI and mobile devices. Guidance:  TSMC is on track to hit the high end of its  US$29.2 billion sales forecast  for the quarter. What’s Fueling the Surge? The generative AI gold rush, led by  Nvidia’s $4 trillion milestone , continues to lift chipmakers like TSMC, who supply the vital infrastructure for AI training and deployment. CEO C.C. Wei  confirmed that  AI chip demand still exceeds supply , and reiterated that TSMC's  2025 sales  are expected to grow in the  mid-20% range (USD terms) . Massive Investmen...

Key Takeaway: With Trump’s return raising prospects of a renewed trade conflict , China’s top economic and trade leaders are prepared to defend its interests, focusing on stability and strategic response. As US-China trade tensions escalate under Donald Trump’s incoming administration, China’s key economic players are set to lead negotiations. Here’s a look at the figures likely to shape China’s response: He Lifeng, Vice Premier A close confidante of Xi Jinping, He oversees US-China economic affairs and brings insights from his previous role at China’s top economic planning agency. He is now Beijing’s main strategist for dealing with the US. Wang Wentao, Commerce Minister Leading trade relations, Wang defends China’s position in key sectors like electric vehicles, emphasizing innovation and competition rather than overcapacity. He has worked to attract foreign investment amid geopolitical tensions. Wang Shouwen, Vice Commerce Minister Fluent in English, Wang was part of China’s negot...

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) reported a better-than-expected 39% increase in quarterly revenue , easing concerns that demand for artificial intelligence (AI) hardware is tapering off. The chipmaker posted September-quarter sales of NT$759.7 billion (US$23.6 billion or RM101.1 billion) , surpassing analysts' projections of NT$748 billion. Full results will be disclosed next Thursday. As the primary chip supplier for Nvidia Corp and Apple Inc , TSMC has seen its sales more than double since 2020, driven by the rise in AI development, especially following the launch of ChatGPT . TSMC's market value briefly surpassed US$1 trillion in July , reflecting optimism about the ongoing demand for AI chips. Despite skepticism from some investors about the sustainability of AI infrastructure spending by companies like Meta and Google, TSMC remains optimistic , with high-performance computing now accounting for more than half of its revenue. The company lifted its 2024 re...