Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 1.22%, Shanghai Composite down 0.01% Hang Seng up 2.09% ASX up 0.34%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,070.95 (-0.64%) Silver at $58.145 (-1.82%), Brent Oil at $73.13 (0.72%), WTI Oil at $69.90 (0.97%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.380, UK 10-year yield at 4.7375, Germany 10-year yield at 2.8480
News & Data:
- (USD) Revised UoM Consumer Sentiment 49.5 to 50.0 expected
Markets Update:
Global stock futures rose modestly on Monday as investors assessed a temporary pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran. Dow futures gained 0.3%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures climbed 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively. However, concerns over the stability of the ceasefire and potential disruptions to Middle East oil supplies continued to influence market sentiment.
Asian markets delivered mixed performances. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix declined, while South Korea’s Kospi fell despite a strong rally in the Kosdaq. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged higher, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index posted solid gains.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to temporarily halt military actions and allow commercial ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz following heightened tensions over the weekend. Although technical discussions are expected to continue, uncertainty remains after President Donald Trump warned of further military action following alleged violations of the ceasefire.
Oil prices moved higher as traders monitored geopolitical developments. Brent crude rose to $72.47 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed above $70.
Wall Street ended the previous week with mixed results. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell as major technology stocks, including Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, and Meta, declined sharply. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced, supported by strong gains in healthcare stocks. Analysts also noted growing investor concerns over whether heavy spending on AI infrastructure will deliver sufficient long-term returns.
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