Markets live updates: ASX extends gains as Wall Street rallies, oil price drops - ABC News

• Asia-Pacific markets saw mixed early activity on August 4, 2026, with South Korea's Kospi opening 1.2% higher and Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 0.3%. • Tech giants drove initial gains in South Korea, with SK Hynix climbing over 3% and Samsung Electronics increasing by more than 2%.

• The upcoming week focuses on critical US labor market data, featuring the JOLTS report on Tuesday and the ADP employment survey on Wednesday. • Investors are primarily anticipating Friday's July employment report, which will provide essential insights into the health of the US economy.

• Today's Data Watch focuses on the Q1 financial results for major companies including DLF, Escorts Kubota, and GSK India. • The report also tracks critical economic indicators, specifically Germany's retail sales, the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI, and inflation data from Turkey.

• The Nifty 50 index experienced a chaotic start to its weekly options expiry session due to irregularities in the Closing Auction Session for stocks with Futures & Options contracts. • Technical glitches caused the index to spike by 200 points in a single tick, creating a divergence of over 100 points between spot and futures prices.

• US stock market futures surged, with Dow futures jumping over 680 points alongside rises in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, following President Trump's decision to halt strikes on Iran. • The move improved investor sentiment and lowered oil prices at the start of the new trading month, though analysts warn that geopolitical uncertainty persists.

• The Brazilian Real and US Dollar are expected to fluctuate based on upcoming US economic data and the Copom interest rate decision. • Core inflation slowed from 0.37% in June to 0.19% in July, suggesting a period of benign inflation for the month.

• Indian equity markets are expected to open flat or mildly negative, with Gift Nifty trading around 24,650, down by 14 points. • Market sentiment has been bolstered by a combination of lower crude oil prices, easing geopolitical tensions, and sustained inflows from foreign funds.

• Indian equities experienced a sharp rally, with the Sensex gaining 544 points and the Nifty surging 1.6%, adding nearly Rs 5 lakh crore in market value. • The surge was driven by easing crude oil prices following renewed US-Iran talks, alongside a stronger rupee and positive Q1 earnings reports.

• FinancialContent highlights three S&P 500 stocks poised for growth, focusing on industry leaders that consistently outperform the broader market. • ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is featured as a key pick, leveraging its operations in the Prudhoe Bay field and global production of crude oil and natural gas.

• Indian benchmark indices surged on Monday, August 3, with the BSE Sensex rising 544.39 points (0.70%) to 78,639.03 and the Nifty 50 jumping 390.70 points (1.60%) to 24,774.30. • The rally was primarily driven by gains in the IT and banking sectors, coinciding with strong capital inflows into the Indian market.

• Wall Street experienced a broad rally, with the S&P 500 gaining 1%, the Nasdaq Composite rising over 1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advancing 624 points (1.2%). • The surge was driven by a decline in oil prices and renewed investor optimism regarding a potential diplomatic deal between the US and Iran.