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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...

Quick Summary EU warns new US tariffs exceed the 15% ceiling agreed in last summer’s trade deal Trump introduced a new  10% global levy , with threats to raise it to  15% Some EU exports like  cheese, butter, plastics and textiles  could face higher-than-agreed rates Brussels pauses approval process, seeks clarity What’s the Dispute? The European Union says President  Donald Trump ’s new global tariff policy may  violate the EU-US trade agreement  struck last summer. After the  Supreme Court of the United States  blocked Trump’s earlier “reciprocal tariffs,” the White House introduced a  new 10% blanket tariff , later threatening to raise it to  15% . According to the  European Commission , the new global levy would be  added on top of existing duties  — potentially pushing tariffs on certain goods  above the 15% cap  agreed in the bilateral trade deal. Which Products Are Affected? Products that could exceed...

The past week delivered a powerful mix of  trade tension, slowing growth, rising inflation, and recession warnings , keeping investors on edge. Here’s what mattered most. 1️⃣ Trump’s 15% Global Tariff Faces Pushback President  Donald Trump  announced a new  10% global tariff , later raised to  15% , after the  Supreme Court of the United States  ruled that trade authority rests with Congress — not the executive branch. The move: Drew opposition from Republican lawmakers Increased legal uncertainty Added to market volatility Policy unpredictability is now a key market risk.  2️⃣ Recession Indicator Flashes Warning US heavy truck sales — a leading economic indicator — are weakening. When fleets expect strong freight demand, they order trucks. When confidence drops, capital spending freezes. The 2025 retreat suggests: Businesses are cautious Forward demand expectations are softening   Early-cycle capital spending is slowing — often a recession p...

Quick Summary French wine and spirits exports  fell for a second straight year , hit by  weak global demand ,  trade wars , and  policy headwinds from the US and China . What Happened Exports  dropped 8% to €14.3 billion  in 2025 Down from  €15.6 billion in 2024 Export volumes fell ~3% , signalling both price and demand pressure According to France’s wine and spirits exporters federation (FEVS), the downturn reflects  geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, currency swings, and declining consumer confidence . Where the Pain Is Coming From Exports to China:   -20% , after Beijing imposed  anti-dumping measures on EU brandy Exports to the US:   -21% , following  tariffs imposed under the Trump administration Key issue:  Two of France’s biggest buyers are simultaneously pulling back. Structural Challenges Add Pressure France’s wine industry is also grappling with: Weak global alcohol consumption trends Extreme weather affecti...

Key Takeaways EU leaders to hold emergency meeting over US tariff threat Trump plans 10% tariffs on eight European countries from Feb 1 EU considering retaliatory tariffs on €93bn of US goods Tariffs seen as incompatible with EU-US trade agreement Anti-coercion instrument under discussion Trade tensions could reintroduce market volatility European Union leaders are preparing for an  emergency meeting  this week as tensions with the US escalate following President  Donald Trump ’s latest tariff threat, raising the risk of another transatlantic trade confrontation. According to  Bloomberg , EU leaders plan to meet in person near the end of the week to discuss potential responses after Trump announced  10% tariffs on eight European countries , set to take effect on  Feb 1 , linked to their stance on Greenland. EU member states are weighing  retaliatory tariffs on up to €93 billion worth of US goods , a move that would mark a significant escalation. EU amb...

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 ...

  FTSE Singapore Straits Times Index -0.47% Keppel  +0.11%  CapitaLandInvest  -0.75%  Keppel REIT  0.00% Here’s what you need to know about today’s Singapore markets: Singapore shares opened lower on Friday US stocks declined on trade tensions and banking concerns despite TSMC’s strong earnings Singapore’s non-oil exports surged 6.9% in September, beating forecasts Stocks to watch: Keppel, CapitaLandInvest, and others Latest share buyback transactions Market Snapshot Singapore shares opened lower on Friday. FTSE Straits Times Index (STI):  4,343.42 (-12.78, -0.29%) Trading (as of 9:00 AM):  Volume 26.61M | Value S$47.81M Advancers / Decliners:  58 / 60 US US Stocks Decline on Trade Tensions and Banking Concerns Despite TSMC’s Strong Earnings Major US indexes closed lower on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.65% to 45,952.24, the S&P 500 falling 0.63% to 6,629.07, and the Nasdaq declining 0.47% to 22,562.54. The market downturn ...

Asian equities advanced on Thursday, tracking Wall Street’s gains as strong corporate earnings and continued AI momentum offset lingering concerns over escalating  US-China trade frictions . Meanwhile,  gold surged to a new record high  and the  yen strengthened , reflecting renewed demand for safe-haven assets. Regional Markets Rally on AI and Earnings Momentum Japan’s  Nikkei 225  climbed  0.8% , led by chip and artificial intelligence-related stocks. Taiwan’s benchmark rose  1.4% , South Korea’s  Kospi  jumped  1.8% , and Australia’s market added  1.1% , with all three touching record highs. Investors were upbeat ahead of  TSMC’s Q3 earnings report , following  ASML’s stronger-than-expected results  and order book, driven by robust AI chip demand. Hong Kong and mainland Chinese shares also recovered from early losses despite ongoing trade concerns. Wall Street Strength Lifts Sentiment US stocks ended higher ov...

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...

A federal judge in California has  halted US President Donald Trump’s plan to lay off thousands of federal workers during the ongoing partial government shutdown, intensifying tensions between the White House and unions representing public employees. Court Blocks Layoffs During Shutdown US District Judge  Susan Illston  granted an injunction requested by two major unions,  blocking layoffs at over 30 federal agencies . The move temporarily shields thousands of government employees from job losses, as the court reviews claims that the administration’s actions  violate federal labor laws . Illston cited statements from President Trump and budget officials suggesting layoffs were politically motivated—targeting “Democrat agencies.” “You can’t do that in a nation of laws,” she said during the San Francisco hearing. The ruling requires the White House to  submit a full report by Friday , detailing any layoffs already made and steps taken to comply with the order...

 India is fast-tracking negotiations with the  United States  to seal a long-awaited  bilateral trade deal by November , according to Bloomberg, marking a renewed effort to strengthen ties after months of friction over energy imports from Russia. Momentum Builds in Washington Officials familiar with the matter said most trade issues have been resolved, with discussions this week in Washington focusing on final sticking points — notably India’s  purchase of discounted Russian oil , which remains a sensitive topic. New Delhi is reportedly working on a plan to address the issue in a way that satisfies both sides. Negotiations, which had stalled after the  US doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% , resumed last month following a personal call from US President  Donald Trump  to Prime Minister  Narendra Modi . The tone has since turned upbeat, with both governments describing recent talks as “positive.” “The relationship with India will only stre...

Asian equities staged a mild recovery on Wednesday, buoyed by dovish signals from  Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell  and solid earnings from major U.S. banks. However, renewed trade tensions between Washington and Beijing kept risk appetite in check. Fed Pivot Speculation Reignites Market Optimism Powell hinted that the  Fed’s tightening cycle may be nearing its end , suggesting that its balance sheet reduction program—known as quantitative tightening (QT)—could soon conclude. Markets interpreted the comments as dovish,  pricing in roughly 48 basis points of rate cuts by December , with ANZ economists projecting  25bp cuts in both October and December . The remarks came as Wall Street rebounded on upbeat bank earnings and after the  IMF raised its 2025 global growth forecast , providing further relief to investors navigating a volatile macro backdrop. Asia-Pacific Markets Rebound The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index  rose  0.45% , while J...

While global markets have been rattled by  trade tensions  and  policy uncertainty , Singapore’s  FTSE Straits Times Index (.STI.SG)  continues to defy the odds. The index not only held firm but  outperformed the S&P 500 , reinforcing Singapore’s position as a  defensive stronghold  in a shaky global landscape. In October alone, the STI climbed  1.76% , while the  S&P 500 slipped 0.66%  — a striking divergence that underscores the market’s underlying resilience. STI Hits Record High in October The momentum is clear. On  October 7 , the STI surged to a  record intraday high of 4,474.12 , lifting its  year-to-date gains to over 15% . The rally has been broad-based, anchored by  strong blue-chip performance  and Singapore’s  stable economic footing . Leading the charge are the  three local banking giants — DBS, OCBC, and UOB —  alongside  Singtel  and  ST Engineering . All ...