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Asian Markets Rise Before US Jobs Report, Fed Comments Ease Rate-Hike Fears Asian equities moved higher on Friday as investors positioned themselves ahead of the crucial US August jobs report. The biggest shift came from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, whose comments reduced fears of an imminent US interest-rate hike and helped bonds recover, the US dollar weaken and the Japanese yen strengthen. 30-Second Market Snapshot 🇯🇵  Nikkei:  +0.8% 🇨🇳  China blue chips:  +1.0% 🇰🇷  Kospi:  +1.1% 🌏  MSCI Asia ex-Japan:  +1.0% 💵  US Dollar Index:  98.96 🇯🇵  USD/JPY:  around 155.7 🥇  Gold:  around US$4,470/oz 🛢️  Brent crude:  around US$95.52/barrel 🇺🇸  US 2-Year Treasury Yield:  4.34% 🇺🇸  US 10-Year Treasury Yield:  4.76% Big Story Today Markets are becoming slightly less convinced that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in September. Fed Governor Christopher W...

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 ...

Key Takeaways Wall Street rallied to fresh highs , led by AI and Magnificent Seven stocks, with the Dow Jones setting another record close. Maybank Investment Bank upgraded Malaysia's technology sector to Positive , citing stronger semiconductor demand and improving order visibility. Bursa Malaysia eased 0.11% , reflecting sector rotation despite a stronger ringgit and improving outlook for technology stocks. ViTrox and ITMAX emerged as Maybank's preferred picks , while strong earnings and IPO demand highlighted continued strength across selected sectors. Technology and AI remain key investment themes , supporting Malaysia's semiconductor supply chain and export outlook. Market Overview Global investor sentiment strengthened after another robust session on Wall Street, where  AI-related stocks  reignited market momentum. The  Dow Jones Industrial Average  reached a new record closing high, while the  Nasdaq Composite  jumped more than 2% as investors return...

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...

Singapore equities opened firmer as a  rebound in US technology stocks  and easing risk sentiment supported regional markets, while investors focused on potential  value-unlocking moves in the banking sector . Market Snapshot The  Straits Times Index (STI)  rose  0.18% to 4,972.54 , with  advancers outpacing decliners (75 vs 41)  in early trade, reflecting cautious optimism. Wall Street Recovery Driven by Tech US markets stabilised after last week’s selloff, led by a sharp rebound in semiconductor and tech names: Nasdaq +0.9% ,  S&P 500 +0.3% , while  Dow -0.2% Intel  surged  11.2% Micron Technology  gained  9.9% Marvell Technology  rallied on index inclusion The move highlights  resilient investor conviction in AI-driven growth , despite recent volatility. Singapore Labour Market Shows Caution Hiring sentiment weakened, with outlook falling to  +13% for Q3 2026 , the lowest since 2021. Companies ar...

Wall Street rebounded as semiconductor stocks surged following a sharp selloff, with  AI-driven demand and easing geopolitical tensions restoring investor confidence  despite lingering macro risks. Semiconductors Lead Market Recovery Technology shares drove the rebound, reversing a  US$1 trillion sector wipeout  from the prior session. Gains were broad-based: Intel   +8.5%  on potential chip deal with  Alphabet Nvidia   +1.7% Broadcom   +2.8% Micron Technology   +8.7% The  Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 4.6% , underscoring renewed buying interest. Markets Rebound as Risk Sentiment Improves Major US indices moved higher: S&P 500 +0.68% Nasdaq +1.09% Dow Jones +0.29% The recovery reflects a shift back toward  growth and AI-linked equities , with investors viewing the prior selloff as temporary. Why Chip Stocks Rebounded So Quickly The sharp reversal highlights a clear dynamic:  short-term macro panic versus long...

Global markets slipped back into  risk-off mode  as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran unsettled investors, overshadowing positive economic data and reinforcing geopolitical-driven volatility. Asian Stocks Slide Amid Renewed Tensions The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan Index  fell  0.8% , reflecting broad regional weakness: Nikkei 225   -1.3% Kospi   -2.0% The decline follows a  sell-off on Wall Street , where the  S&P 500  dropped  0.7% . Oil and Geopolitics Drive Market Sentiment Markets were shaken after  fresh exchanges of fire between the US and Iran , raising concerns over: Energy supply disruptions Prolonged instability in the  Middle East While Brent crude initially surged, it later eased to around  US$97 per barrel , reflecting  conflicting signals on ceasefire progress . Economic Data Takes a Back Seat Stronger US data failed to lift sentiment: ISM services PMI improved , indicating resilient d...

Malaysia’s market saw  mixed signals , with strong corporate earnings and record trade data offset by  continued weakness in equities  amid cautious investor sentiment. Wall Street Rally Led by AI Momentum US markets surged on the back of strong tech performance: S&P 500   +1.08% (record high) Nasdaq Composite   +1.54% Dow Jones Industrial Average   +1.31% Nvidia  remained in focus after  beating revenue expectations  and announcing an  US$80 billion share buyback , reinforcing AI-driven optimism. KLCI Falls for Sixth Straight Session The  FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index  declined  0.55% , extending its losing streak to  six consecutive sessions . Market breadth was weak ( 840 losers vs 366 gainers ) Losses were led by  PETRONAS-linked stocks Sentiment remains cautious amid  regional weakness and geopolitical risks Malaysia Trade Hits Record High Malaysia’s external trade delivered a strong macro boost: T...

US equities surged to fresh records, driven by  strong AI earnings momentum  and a sharp  decline in oil prices , as hopes of a US-Iran deal lifted market sentiment. Record Highs Led by Tech and AI Stocks The  S&P 500  rose  1% to a record ~7,332 , while the  Nasdaq 100  gained  1.2% , also hitting a new high. The  Dow Jones Industrial Average  climbed  1.1% , supported by broad-based gains. The rally reflects a powerful combination of: AI-driven earnings beats Improved  geopolitical sentiment Lower  energy costs easing inflation concerns AMD Leads AI Surge on Strong Guidance Advanced Micro Devices  surged  ~16% , after: Beating earnings expectations Raising forward guidance Highlighting  strong data center demand The move reinforced confidence in the  AI infrastructure cycle , lifting peers like  NVIDIA  and  Intel . Oil Prices Plunge on Peace Optimism Crude markets saw a sharp ...

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...

Wall Street equities retreated on Monday as  failed US-Iran peace negotiations  reignited geopolitical concerns, dampening investor sentiment and raising the risk of  renewed market volatility . Geopolitical Tensions Drive Risk-Off Sentiment The breakdown in weekend talks between the US and Iran, coupled with a  US military blockade on Iranian maritime traffic , has heightened uncertainty around global trade flows and energy supply. The  CBOE Volatility Index (VIX)  climbed to  20.61 , reflecting increased market anxiety. According to  Invesco , the lack of clarity around de-escalation suggests markets remain in a  “status quo” risk environment , with limited visibility on economic recovery. Major Indices Decline as Investors Turn Cautious As of early trading: Dow Jones Industrial Average  fell  0.72% S&P 500  declined  0.33% Nasdaq Composite  slipped  0.36% The pullback highlights the fragility of the recent...

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...