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U.S. 10Y touches 5%, AI stocks tumble and oil stays above US$105 markets brace for tomorrow’s Fed decision Global markets enter Tuesday with three pressure points converging:  U.S. borrowing costs briefly crossed 5%, oil remains above US$100, and the AI trade suffered a sharp reset overnight . The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq all closed lower Monday, while the Philadelphia semiconductor index plunged  5.9% .  For Malaysian investors, there was one encouraging counterpoint: the  FBM KLCI rebounded 0.66% to 1,698.01 , snapping four consecutive losing sessions despite the difficult global backdrop.  30-second market snapshot Market / Asset Latest 🇺🇸 S&P 500 7,619.98, -0.48% 🇺🇸 Dow Jones 52,421.20, -0.29% 🇺🇸 Nasdaq 26,186.41, -0.56% 🇲🇾 FBM KLCI 1,698.01, +0.66% 💵 USD/MYR ~4.04–4.05 🇺🇸 U.S. 10Y Treasury briefly >5%; ~4.98% later 🥇 Spot gold ~US$4,313/oz, -0.8% 🛢️ Brent US$105.68/bbl, +~1% ₿ Bitcoin ~US$79,150, +~2% Monday The dollar strengthened Mo...

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 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...

Global markets staged a strong rebound after the US and Iran reached a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears over energy supply disruptions and inflation pressures. Relief Rally Across Asset Classes Equities and bonds moved higher in tandem: Asian stocks surged  over 3% S&P 500 futures rose  1.1% US 10-year Treasury yields fell to  4.42% Meanwhile, oil prices dropped sharply: Brent crude fell over 4% to below US$84 Stocks rose because lower oil prices reduce inflation and Fed risks , improving the outlook for both growth and monetary policy. Inflation Outlook Improves The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could: Restore  global oil supply flows Remove  geopolitical risk premium in crude prices Ease  inflation pressures globally This strengthens expectations that central banks may  avoid further rate hikes  or even shift toward easing. Dollar Weakens, Risk Assets Gain US dollar declined  as safe-haven demand eased Bitcoin climb...

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...