Asian Stock Markets Rise as KOSPI Jumps 6%, China GDP Misses Forecasts

• Indian stock markets (Dalal Street) are entering a new trading week following a positive close, with performance expected to be driven by a mix of domestic data and global geopolitical events. • Key global triggers include fluctuations in crude oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East, specifically developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and Iran.

• European equities are seeing a surge in global investor interest driven by strengthening corporate earnings and improving economic data. • The Stoxx Europe 600 Index recently completed its longest winning streak since June, gaining 11% so far in 2026.

• U.S. stock indices closed the week higher, led by a 5.2% surge in the Nasdaq to 26,691 and a 3.6% increase in the S&P 500 to 7,758. • Market gains were driven by strong earnings reports from companies like SpaceX (SPCX) and the release of the latest payrolls data.

• Indian benchmark indices closed lower on Friday, with the Sensex falling 456 points and the Nifty dropping 65 points due to closing auction session divergence. • Market sentiment was weighed down by volatility in crude oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

• U.S. equities saw a broad rally from August 3-7, 2026, with the Nasdaq Composite leading gains at 5.2%, followed by the S&P 500 at 3.6% and the Dow at 3.0%. • The market advance extended across large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks, though growth stocks remained the primary drivers of the upward trend.

• South Korea's Kospi index experienced a significant surge in turbulence during June, pushing a key volatility gauge to a record-high of 96.9. • The spike was primarily driven by the flushing out of leveraged trades as market instability increased.

• European stock markets are experiencing a significant rally, attracting increased interest from money managers and investors. • Market metrics, including earnings, economic growth, sentiment surveys, and fund flows, indicate a broad and systemic shift in performance.

• Macro projections suggest a rebound for European laggards, with small caps, telecoms, and real estate expected to outperform by approximately 10% in the coming months. • German equities are projected to see a further 5% outperformance, driven by increased infrastructure spending and a recovery in domestic economic activity.

• Europe's STOXX 600 index achieved its fourth consecutive record closing on Friday, fueled largely by a surge in technology stocks. • The rally mirrored strong performance on Wall Street, following U.S. jobs data that indicated a cooling labor market.

• The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed the week at an all-time high of 660.25 points, marking a 0.3% increase. • The rally was driven by strong corporate earnings and a surprising US nonfarm payrolls report showing job losses in the world's largest economy.

• Liquidators of eFishery’s Singapore holding company have distributed approximately $21.6 million to investors, marking the first confirmed return of capital following a massive accounting fraud. • The distribution comes more than 18 months after DealStreetAsia first reported the fraud, providing a partial recovery for affected stakeholders.

• The combined market capitalization of four of India's top-10 most valued firms increased by Rs 1.43 lakh crore last week. • State Bank of India (SBI) emerged as the biggest winner among the gaining companies during this period.