Balisacan Vows Stronger Support for Filipino Workers as Labor Risks Grow, Unemployment at 5%

• Global yields are continuing to rise steadily, driven by a combination of elevated energy prices and market expectations. • Key contributing factors include the anticipation of tighter monetary policy and an increase in fiscal risk premia.

• Oil prices surged over 2% following a US strike on Iranian launch sites in the Hormuz region, driving energy market volatility. • Global markets showed selective risk appetite, with the Dow remaining nearly flat and the VIX easing by 0.55%, while gold prices dropped 0.97%.

• The BSE Sensex plummeted by 500 points and the Nifty fell below the 24,000 mark, driven by renewed tensions between the US and Iran. • Escalating conflict in the region has pushed crude oil prices higher, contributing to market instability and negative investor sentiment.

• Somil Mehta, Head of Retail Research at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, has issued stock market recommendations for September 1, 2026. • The top "buy" picks for the day include Indusind Bank, Computer Age Management Services (CAMS), and Dixon Technologies (India).

• Several key stocks, including ITC, Happiest Minds, HDFC Bank, and ONGC, are identified as primary companies to watch for the September 1 trading session. • Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has announced plans to allocate over ₹30,000 crore toward capital expenditure throughout the current year.

• U.S. equities experienced a volatile week starting August 25, 2026, initially dropping due to weakness in the technology and semiconductor sectors. • A Tuesday relief rally was triggered by falling oil prices as Middle East supply fears eased, though gains later stalled following a firm July Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report that revived inflation concerns.

• Bank of America (BofA) has updated its outlook on top European IT services and payments stocks following the second-quarter reporting season. • For one unnamed company, BofA increased the target multiple to 26 times 2026 price-to-earnings, up from 24 times, citing peer rerating.

• Finance ministers and central bank governors from the world's largest economies are meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, this Monday and Tuesday for G20 discussions. • The summit occurs as the U.S. administration simultaneously pressures allies to financially isolate Iran while imposing tariffs on several of those same partner nations.

• The global ETF industry experienced a record-high number of new fund launches in July, signaling a potentially transformative year for the sector. • This surge in activity reflects growing investor demand and a strategic shift by fund managers to offer more accessible, low-cost investment vehicles.

• Indian benchmark indices traded in the red during the late session on August 31, 2026, with the Sensex dropping 307.24 points to close at 76,957.27. • Despite the overall market decline, several Nifty 50 stocks saw gains, led by ICICI Bank (+1.43%), Grasim (+0.98%), and Reliance (+0.75%).

• Indian markets closed lower following Friday's session, driven by MSCI rebalancing and rising expectations of a US interest rate hike after a speech by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. • India's GDP growth was reported at 7.80%, while Cipla and the SBP Group entered into a new licensing agreement.

• The Straits Times Index (STI) closed at 5,755.360 on Monday, August 31, marking an increase of 0.97%. • DFI Retail emerged as the top-performing stock during the trading session.