National Summary

• The ASX is projected to reach a new record high, with an expected opening rise of approximately 0.4%. • This positive momentum follows a record close for Wall Street's S&P 500, driven by strong corporate earnings and reduced fears regarding interest rate hikes.

• Bank of America (BofA) maintains its forecast that the Federal Reserve will implement a 75-basis-point interest rate hike starting in September. • Analysts argue that the upcoming Consumer Price Index (CPI) report is a more critical indicator than recent jobs data, as the Fed remains primarily focused on curbing inflation.

• Stock market volatility in South Korea has begun to ease as investors unwind leveraged trading positions. • The stabilization follows a period of heightened fluctuations driven by high-leverage bets on market movements.

• Key US economic indicators, including CPI on Wednesday, PPI on Thursday, and retail sales on Friday, are scheduled for release this week. • Traders are advised to maintain long positions and selectively buy value gaps identified by the KXCO ontology.

• The Straits Times Index (STI) rose 1.05% to close at 5,698.430 on Friday, August 7. • Yangzijiang Shipbuilding led the market gains with a significant stock price increase of 6.60%.

• Indian stock markets (Dalal Street) are entering a new trading week following a positive close, with performance expected to be driven by a mix of domestic data and global geopolitical events. • Key global triggers include fluctuations in crude oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East, specifically developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and Iran.

• European equities are seeing a surge in global investor interest driven by strengthening corporate earnings and improving economic data. • The Stoxx Europe 600 Index recently completed its longest winning streak since June, gaining 11% so far in 2026.

• U.S. stock indices closed the week higher, led by a 5.2% surge in the Nasdaq to 26,691 and a 3.6% increase in the S&P 500 to 7,758. • Market gains were driven by strong earnings reports from companies like SpaceX (SPCX) and the release of the latest payrolls data.

• Indian benchmark indices closed lower on Friday, with the Sensex falling 456 points and the Nifty dropping 65 points due to closing auction session divergence. • Market sentiment was weighed down by volatility in crude oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

• U.S. equities saw a broad rally from August 3-7, 2026, with the Nasdaq Composite leading gains at 5.2%, followed by the S&P 500 at 3.6% and the Dow at 3.0%. • The market advance extended across large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks, though growth stocks remained the primary drivers of the upward trend.

• South Korea's Kospi index experienced a significant surge in turbulence during June, pushing a key volatility gauge to a record-high of 96.9. • The spike was primarily driven by the flushing out of leveraged trades as market instability increased.

• European stock markets are experiencing a significant rally, attracting increased interest from money managers and investors. • Market metrics, including earnings, economic growth, sentiment surveys, and fund flows, indicate a broad and systemic shift in performance.