Market Roundup 21 August 2026 - KAOHOON INTERNATIONAL

• Major U.S. stock indices climbed today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average leading gains at +0.67%, followed by the S&P 500 at +0.37% and the Nasdaq 100 at +0.10%. • The market rally is being driven by a combination of stabilizing crude oil prices and a significant surge in Bitcoin's value.

• A diverse set of global headlines for August 22, 2026, highlights China's rejection of Iran sanctions, escalating Ebola outbreaks, and potential conflict between Russia and NATO. • Economic instability is evident through Japan's bond market volatility, private credit concerns, and reported weakness at Walmart.

• Wall Street is preparing for the release of critical economic indicators next week, focusing specifically on inflation and consumer confidence. • The Conference Board is scheduled to release its latest consumer confidence report on Tuesday.

• Thai shares trended sideways down this week, characterized by mild selling pressure and frequent sector rotation. • Investors engaged in periodic buy-backs, notably with TTB shares following a big-lot sale by ING Bank that caused a slight price dip.

• Most Asian share indices are heading for weekly losses on Friday, August 21, driven by persistent stress in global bond markets and rising inflation risks. • The Nikkei slipped 0.8%, bringing its total losses for the week to 4%, while Chinese blue chips dipped 0.1% and markets in South Korea and Taiwan also trended downward.

• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) on Friday in Singapore to strengthen business engagement between the two nations. • Key attendees included SBF Chairman Mark Lee and SBF (India Business Council) Chairman Prasoon Mukherjee, focusing on expanding investment opportunities.

• MSCI Inc. reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings and revenue that slightly exceeded Wall Street expectations. • Following the report, Morgan Stanley lowered its price target for MSCI Inc. due to revised internal estimates.

• Central bank chiefs will gather at the upcoming Jackson Hole symposium to address global inflation challenges driven by rising oil prices. • Investors are awaiting Nvidia's earnings report, which is expected to provide critical insights into current AI spending trends.

• Indian domestic equities rebounded on Thursday, with the Nifty index recording a gain of 0.6 percent. • Despite the recovery, foreign portfolio investors remained cautious, resulting in a net sale of shares worth Rs 583 crore.

• Stock market futures remained flat as Treasury yields rebounded, with the 30-year yield climbing back above 5.2%. • Treasury Secretary Bessent has doubled the government's buyback program, specifically targeting longer-dated securities to stabilize the market.

• Treasury yields experienced a sudden surge following a surprise buyback move by the U.S. Treasury. • Paul Stanley of Arca suggests that the current volatility reflects a "wall of worry" and indicates that the market may be performing the tightening work for the Federal Reserve.