Asian Stocks Hit Record Highs on AI Optimism Amid Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire

• Global hedge funds ramped up investments in Asia, with weekly buying of South Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese stocks reaching a 10-year high for the week ending May 7, according to a Morgan Stanley report. • The surge, the heaviest in over a decade in notional terms, was driven by clients across all regions and strategies targeting Asia's technology sector amid the AI boom.

• U.S. stock markets declined Tuesday with the S&P 500 falling 0.9% from record highs as technology stocks weakened and oil prices continued rising amid uncertainty over the Iran conflict. • Benchmark U.S. crude jumped $3.43 to $101.50 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed $3.62 to $107.83 per barrel, as President Trump said the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was on "life support" after rejecting Iran's latest peace proposal.

• Expected S&P 500 earnings growth for Q1 has doubled to 28% since early April, fueled by upward revisions across sectors. • Mega-cap tech stocks, dubbed the 'Magnificent Seven,' account for 55% of quarterly and 37% of annual growth, comprising a third of index market cap.

• Asia's diverse economic stories across countries are generating attractive opportunities in fixed income markets despite geopolitical headwinds. • Regional credit markets have shown strong resilience weathering recent stresses related to US-Iran ceasefire uncertainties and oil price volatility.

• A failed peace proposal over the weekend propelled oil prices and 10-year Treasury yields higher on Monday morning, with equity futures opening modestly lower. • Markets shrugged off geopolitical risks last week as oil declined on Iran ceasefire comments, but renewed tensions reversed that trend amid global energy volatility.

• U.S. stocks surged last week with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ reaching new record highs, supported by stronger-than-expected April jobs data and solid tech earnings. • The S&P 500 climbed 10.42% in April to close at a record 7,209.01, while the Nasdaq 100 rallied 15.64% and Dow gained 7.14%, led by mega-cap tech and AI enthusiasm.

• Real GDP expanded at a 2% annualized pace in Q1 2026, driven by business investment surging to its fastest rate in nearly three years on AI equipment and software spending. • Consumer spending rose modestly at 1.6%, down from 1.9% last quarter, impacted by bad winter weather and March energy price spikes.

• The Federal Reserve Board issued its Financial Stability Report for May 2026 on May 8, assessing risks amid solid economic growth and market highs. • Report highlights stress from rising oil prices, geopolitical strains, and narrow equity leadership concentrated in AI-driven tech sectors.

• Refresco announced a cash acquisition of SunOpta at $6.50 per share, valuing the transaction at approximately 1.1 billion dollars, representing a significant consolidation move in the beverage and specialty food ingredients sector. • The acquisition demonstrates ongoing M&A activity in the food and beverage industry as larger players seek to expand market share and diversify product portfolios through strategic purchases.

• HSBC Holdings plc announced a quarterly profit before tax of 10.1 billion US dollars for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, excluding notable items, demonstrating strong earnings performance in the first quarter. • The bank approved a first interim dividend for 2026 of 10 US cents per share, signaling confidence in financial performance and commitment to shareholder returns.

• Sun Life Financial announced its first-quarter 2026 income fell 49.9% to $340 million, reflecting challenges in its Asian and Canadian operations amid volatile markets. • The decline was driven by higher claims in group benefits and investment losses, with core earnings per share dropping to $1.56 from $3.10 year-over-year.