FTSE 100: London Benchmark Climbs to 10,743 as It Bucks Europe's Cautious Mood

• Indian equities ended their losing streak on August 20, 2026, with the Sensex climbing 628.04 points (0.82%) to 77,537.72 and the Nifty 50 rising 153.55 points (0.64%) to 24,231.85. • The rally was driven by broad-based gains in IT and financial stocks, supported by improved global risk appetite and advances in US indices like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq.

• Asian stock markets rose following the US Treasury's decision to expand its debt buybacks, boosting investor confidence across the region. • South Korea's benchmark Kospi led the gains with a significant rebound of over 6%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 1.1% to 25,786.32.

• On August 21, the Indian stock market showed resilience as the Sensex rose 100 points following a flat opening, while the Nifty traded around 24,260. • Power Grid Corp and Kotak Mahindra Bank emerged as the top gainers, contributing to a broader Asian trend where India led gains at 0.82%, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore.

• India has replaced Indonesia as the least-preferred stock market in Asia among global fund managers, according to a recent Bank of America survey. • The decline in investor sentiment is driven by concerns over high stock-market valuations, slowing economic growth, and a perceived lack of exposure to artificial intelligence.

• Asian stock markets experienced a rebound, led by gains in South Korea's KOSPI, though overall weekly losses persist. • The market remains volatile due to ongoing risks associated with bond yields and fluctuating oil prices.

• Barclays has recruited Mike Joo from Bank of America to co-lead its investment banking division as part of a broader effort to regain market competitiveness. • This move follows a trend of European lenders poaching senior talent from Wall Street to address a significant decline in their global dealmaking influence.

• Indian equities ended a seven-session losing streak, with the Sensex surging 628 points and the Nifty gaining 154 points. • The market recovery was driven by a combination of falling US bond yields, short-covering, and overall stronger investor sentiment.

• Asian stocks and bonds declined following a downturn on Wall Street, driven by rising US Treasury yields that dampened investor enthusiasm. • Market volatility is increasing as high government financing costs and long-term yields weigh on equities after years of inflation and spending.

• The KOSPI is showing a slightly weak trend as it nears the 7,000-point threshold, influenced by rebounding U.S. Treasury yields and a decline in U.S. stock markets. • KB Securities Executive Director Lee Euntaek warns that rising interest rates may reduce investor incentives to fund high-risk AI companies if government bonds offer competitive returns.

• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) exhibited strong buying activity in the first half of August, marking the fourth consecutive fortnight of inflows into the Indian market. • Investment was primarily concentrated in the financial services, automobiles, and IT sectors, with a notable preference for mid-cap stocks.

• South Korea's Kospi index surged 6%, leading a broader rally across Asian markets following a positive trend in bonds. • Other key indices also rose, including the Hang Seng by 1.1%, the Nikkei 225 futures by 1%, and the Topix by 0.9%.