β’ India emerged as top global investment destination, surpassing China with strong capital inflows per Quant Mutual Fund report.
β’ Nominal GDP growth outpaced China's, bolstered by stable fiscal policies, liquidity support, and credit expansion.
β’ Investor shift to large-caps with selective mid/small-cap plays follows equity correction stabilization and improving earnings outlook.
β’ Wall Street stocks traded mixed early Monday, May 4, 2026, as rising oil prices from Middle East conflict offset robust US corporate earnings expectations.
β’ Oil prices edged higher after Iran's military warned it would attack US forces entering the Strait of Hormuz, following President Donald Trump's announcement to guide ships through the waterway.
β’ Major indices remain near record highs, supported by encouraging inflation data and resilient earnings season, though investors eye the April jobs report.
β’ Nasdaq and S&P 500 declined on May 4, 2026, following UAE's report of intercepting missiles from Iran amid escalating regional tensions.
β’ Move counters last week's gains where NASDAQ posted a 10-day winning streak led by mega-cap tech on AI optimism and earnings.
β’ Oil and US dollar rose, while gold and silver fell as investors favored risk assets despite conflict worries.
β’ The Federal Reserve maintained interest rates at 3.50%-3.75% last week, citing continued economic expansion but persistent inflation linked to energy prices.
β’ Inflation remains elevated with PCE price index up slightly in March to 3.5% year-over-year.
β’ Decision supports market optimism, contributing to S&P 500 nearing its January record high despite Middle East risks.
β’ US GDP expanded at a 2.0% annualized rate in Q1 2026, rebounding from 0.5% in the prior quarter, driven by government spending, exports, and investment.
β’ Consumer spending stayed strong in March, bolstered by rising personal income and consumption.
β’ Manufacturing PMI hit its strongest since May 2022 per S&P Global, though possibly due to inventory buildup rather than demand.
β’ Indian benchmark indices ended positively on May 4, 2026, with Nifty 50 closing at 24,100 after gaining 122 points and Sensex up 356 points at 77,488 amid volatile trading.
β’ Realty, metal, and healthcare sectors led broad-based gains, driven by falling crude oil prices and improved investor sentiment following state election results, while IT stocks lagged.
β’ Top Nifty gainers included Adani Ports (up 5%), Adani Enterprises, Eicher Motors (up 3%), Hindustan Unilever, and Shriram Finance; laggards were Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Dr. Reddy's, ONGC, and TCS.
β’ Key Indian stocks including Kotak Mahindra Bank (trading at 383.30, up 0.35%), DMart, Vodafone Idea, Nestle India, and Coal India featured prominently in market news on May 4, 2026.
β’ Nifty Financial Services index rose 1.12% to 25,944.50, gaining 287 points, amid sector rotation post-election outcomes.
β’ Other highlights include HUL, Bajaj Finance, and Adani stocks, with trading guides recommending buys like Gujarat Fluorochemicals and Kalyani Steels for up to 8% gains.
β’ Singapore's real estate investment volume jumped 364% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to CBRE data released today.
β’ The surge reflects strong investor confidence amid regional economic recovery, with total transactions reaching S$4.2 billion across office, retail, and industrial sectors.
β’ This growth underscores Singapore's role as a safe-haven market in Southeast Asia, potentially attracting more foreign capital amid global uncertainties.
β’ Japan announced plans to establish a Β₯500 billion fund aimed at reinforcing economic security, with implications for Southeast Asian supply chains.
β’ The fund will support critical technology investments and diversification away from high-risk dependencies, targeting partners in ASEAN nations like Indonesia and Vietnam.
β’ This initiative addresses vulnerabilities exposed by recent geopolitical tensions, enhancing regional resilience against disruptions.
β’ Southeast Asia's economic resilience is under pressure from a fragmented global economy, requiring deeper intra-regional integration, according to The Business Times analysis.
β’ Key challenges include trade barriers and supply chain shifts, with ASEAN's intra-regional trade at just 25% of total commerce.
β’ Strategic engagement with partners like the US, China, and EU is essential to mitigate deglobalization risks and sustain growth above 4.5% annually.
β’ Infosys reported Q4 net profit up 21% to Rs 8,501 crore, though shares fell 3.6% on weak revenue guidance.
β’ IT sector faces pressure from BFSI weakness and higher costs, impacting peers like Cyient.
β’ Results highlight mixed quarterly outcomes in tech amid global demand shifts.