Asia stocks edge higher as AI shares stabilize; Australia leads regional gains By Investing.com

• Brent crude oil prices dropped 4.7% to $83.77 per barrel, while WTI crude fell 5.1% to $80.34 per barrel. • The insurance sector is seeing a balanced distribution model where digital-first younger advisors drive volume and experienced advisors secure high-value protection policies.

• Indian stock markets ended in the red on August 4, 2026, with the Sensex dropping 210 points and the Nifty slipping 159 points. • The decline was driven by investor caution surrounding a new F&O closing-auction mechanism, rising crude oil prices, and weekly derivatives expiry.

• Asian markets saw cautious gains on August 4, 2026, following a global rally on Wall Street, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares (excluding Japan) rising 0.1%. • South Korean shares led the growth with a rally of up to 2.1%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 declined by 0.3% and S&P 500 e-mini futures rose 0.1%.

• Global markets remained steady on Tuesday following a previous equity rally and a decline in oil prices, with Wall Street futures showing slight gains. • Investors are shifting focus toward the U.S. corporate earnings season, which is now more than halfway complete.

• Asian markets showed mixed results on Tuesday, August 4, as investors balanced the potential for AI-related growth from strong U.S. corporate earnings against broader volatility. • Regional performance varied, with the Nikkei 225 rising 0.2% and S&P 500 e-mini futures up 0.3%, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan) dipped 0.1%.

• Dow futures surged 400 points and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high on Monday, driven by strong earnings reports from Caterpillar and Palantir. • Amazon reached a significant milestone, with its market capitalization eclipsing $3 trillion for the first time.

• European stock markets are trending toward record highs as strong corporate earnings increase investor risk appetite. • Oil prices rose on Tuesday, recovering from a previous sell-off triggered by President Donald Trump's announcement of diplomatic talks with Iran.

• Major U.S. stock indices closed sharply higher on Monday, with the Nasdaq 100 rising 1.78%, the S&P 500 gaining 1.48%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing 1.32%. • The market rally was primarily driven by easing tensions in the Middle East and positive movement in September E-mini futures.

• The Japanese yen surged up to 5% over three trading sessions following suspected currency interventions by US and Japanese authorities. • Traders are closely monitoring the market for further interventions to stabilize the currency pair against the US dollar.

• On Tuesday morning, India's benchmark indices diverged in a rare occurrence, with the BSE Sensex trading in the green while the Nifty50 slipped into the red. • Around 9:42 am, the BSE Sensex rose by 166.15 points (0.21%) to 78,805.18, whereas the Nifty50 dropped 159.25 points (0.64%) to 24,615.00.

• U.S. stock futures have trended higher following President Donald Trump's announcement that negotiations with Iran are set to begin on Monday. • The news comes amid a volatile cycle of threats and diplomatic pullbacks between the two nations, creating uncertainty in global markets.