MONEY MASTER

Asian equities and currencies staged a sharp rebound as a  US-Iran ceasefire boosted risk appetite  and eased pressure from elevated oil prices. Equities Rally Across Emerging Asia The  MSCI Emerging Asia Index jumped 5% , reaching a  three-week high , while broader emerging-market equities rose  4% globally . Regional markets posted strong gains: South Korea:  +7% Taiwan:  +4.5% Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines):  +1% to 3% The rally reflects renewed optimism after  Donald Trump  agreed to a  two-week ceasefire with Iran , reducing immediate geopolitical risks. Oil Drop Eases Pressure on Import-Dependent Economies Crude prices fell  below US$100 per barrel , providing relief to  oil-importing Asian economies  that had been hit by rising energy costs. Lower oil prices are expected to: Reduce  inflationary pressure Support  consumer spending and growth Improve  trade ...

Key  Takeaways Singapore  stocks  opened  slightly  lower   amid  global  market  volatility. US  equities  fell  sharply   after  Middle  East  tensions  pushed  oil  prices  higher. Singapore  continues  attracting  safe- haven  capital ,  though  rising  LNG  costs  could  lift  inflation. Singapore’s  billionaire  count  increased  to 55 ,  reflecting  continued  wealth  creation. Investors  are  watching  ComfortDelGro,  CapitaLand  Investment,  TAP,  and  Q& M  Dental . Market  Snapshot Singapore  equities  started  Friday  on  a  cautious  note  as  global  markets  reacted  to  rising  geopolitical  tensions. The  FTSE  Straits  Times  Index...

Asian equity-index futures are edging higher as the  US dollar slumps to a near four-year low , while gold and risk assets remain bid. For Malaysia, this macro mix is  more supportive than it first appears , reinforcing the recent strength in both the  ringgit  and  FBM KLCI . The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has fallen to its weakest level since early 2022, driven by investor unease over US policy unpredictability and renewed speculation around  coordinated FX intervention  to guide the dollar lower. President Donald Trump’s remarks that he is “not concerned” about dollar weakness have further emboldened the move. Why This Matters for Malaysia (Not Just Global Markets) 1. Ringgit Strength Gets Structural Backing A weaker dollar environment is reinforcing the ringgit’s breakout, which has already pushed  USD/MYR toward the 3.95 handle . For Malaysia: Capital inflows into  local equities  become more attractive on a currency-adjusted basis...

Asian equities fell for a  third straight session  as escalating geopolitical tensions tied to Greenland reignited fears of offshore selling of US assets, while volatility in global bond markets kept risk appetite fragile. The renewed anxiety follows President  Donald Trump ’s repeated threats to acquire Greenland — including tariff warnings against Europe — ahead of his speech at the  World Economic Forum  in Davos. Asia & Global Equity Snapshot Risk sentiment remained weak across regions: MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan:   -0.3% Nikkei 225 :   -1.2% , fifth straight daily decline EURO STOXX 50 futures:   -0.4% DAX futures:   -0.4% US equity futures stabilised modestly after Wall Street’s sharp selloff: S&P 500 futures:  +0.2% Nasdaq futures:  +0.2% Overnight, the  S&P 500 fell 2.06%  and the  Nasdaq Composite slid 2.4% , the steepest one-day drop in three months. ‘Sell America’ Trade Back in Focus Investors r...

Asian equities surged to  record highs , led by a renewed technology rally after blowout earnings from  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co  reassured investors that the artificial intelligence (AI) boom remains durable. The  MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  rose  0.3% to a fresh all-time high , marking its  fourth consecutive weekly gain . Technology shares across the region advanced strongly, while South Korea’s benchmark index — closely tied to the AI theme — also reached new peaks. TSMC shares climbed to their  highest level ever , reigniting risk appetite across global markets. The optimism spilled into US markets, with futures for the  S&P 500  and  Nasdaq 100  both rising, signalling continued strength in global tech sentiment. Investors who had previously worried about  stretched valuations and heavy AI-related spending  appear reassured by earnings that support ongoing data-centre demand. Market confidence has ...

Asian equities surged to a  fresh all-time high , outperforming global peers as investors rotated toward  cheaper valuations and stronger regional growth prospects , even as precious metals cooled after a historic rally. What’s Driving the Rally MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  jumped  1.2% to a record high Asian stocks have  outperformed the S&P 500  so far this year Investors are  broadening exposure beyond the US , amid rising political and policy uncertainty in Washington Valuations remain the key attraction : Asia-Pacific trades at  ~15x earnings vs  ~22x for the S&P 500  and  ~25x for the Nasdaq 100 This valuation gap is drawing global capital toward Asian and non-US assets. Japan in Focus Early momentum was led by  Japan , where markets reopened after a holiday: Topix surged 2.2% Japanese government bond yields jumped Speculation that  Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi  may dissolve parliament as early as next mont...

  Key Takeaways: Asian equities advanced for a fifth day , led by technology shares such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix. Oil prices rose  following Israel’s strike in Qatar, raising fears of further Middle East escalation. Markets are now bracing for  US inflation data  that will shape the Fed’s September policy meeting. Market Performance South Korea’s Kospi  jumped as much as 1.4%, setting up for a record close, supported by AI-driven momentum and corporate reforms. Japan’s Topix  rose 0.2%, while  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng  gained 0.7%. MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  extended its winning streak to five sessions. US equity futures  edged higher, following the S&P 500’s record close. Meanwhile,  China’s consumer prices slipped 0.4% YoY , highlighting persistent deflationary pressures and renewed concerns over growth momentum. Macro & Policy Outlook US jobs revision:  Payrolls for the year through March were revised d...

Asian equities were mixed on Thursday as strong results from Nvidia failed to lift confidence, with investors focusing instead on risks to the chip giant’s China business and broader trade tensions. Nvidia’s Earnings Jolt Fades Nvidia reported blowout quarterly earnings but warned that no shipments of its H20 products went to China due to trade restrictions. Shares fell after hours, dragging US futures lower: S&P 500 e-mini futures: –0.2% Nasdaq futures: –0.4% Analysts at Goldman Sachs said the results and guidance were solid, but elevated expectations meant little margin for disappointment. Asian chipmakers in Korea and Taiwan are expected to mirror Nvidia’s performance as investors cut exposure. Market Moves Across Asia MSCI Asia-Pacific Index (ex-Japan): –0.2%, swinging between gains and losses. Japan: Nikkei 225 +0.4% after reports that top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa cancelled a planned US trip related to trade talks. Korea: KOSPI +0.3% after the Bank of Korea kept its benchmark...

 Fed’s Policy Pivot Lifts Sentiment Asian equities climbed Monday, buoyed by growing conviction that the  U.S. Federal Reserve will resume rate cuts in September . Futures now price in an  84% probability of a 25bps cut  and as much as  100bps of easing by mid-2026 , bringing the Fed funds rate into the  3.25%–3.50% range . Treasuries & Dollar:  Yields fell sharply on Friday, with the U.S. 10-year note at  4.263% , down 7bps. The dollar weakened, supporting risk assets. Market implication:  Lower borrowing costs improve the earnings outlook, but also signal Fed concern over slowing employment and growth. JPMorgan’s Bruce Kasman warned that while easing is supportive, risks remain skewed toward a  downshift in global growth . Inflation in Focus – Data Could Test Euphoria The rally faces an immediate test from Friday’s release of the  U.S. PCE index , the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. Core inflation is expected to rise to ...