PETER’S ASIAN BUSINESS & FINANCE BRIEFING – Monday 03 August 2026, 06:00 Hong Kong

• Stock futures indicate a higher market open for Monday, August 5, as investors prepare for a heavy week of corporate earnings reports. • A pharmaceutical company is projected to report second-quarter revenue of $1.81 billion, an 80% year-over-year increase, with adjusted earnings of 35 cents per share.

• US stocks are expected to open firmer following President Trump's announcement over the weekend that he cancelled planned strikes on Iran. • The decision to halt military action came at the request of Tehran and other Middle East nations, contingent upon the rapid negotiation of a deal.

• Brent crude oil prices crashed 7%, falling below $84 per barrel, following news of peace talks between the US and Iran. • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to maintain a cautious stance while monitoring the impact of geopolitical shifts and currency movements on inflation.

• U.S. stock futures trended higher on Monday as investors reacted to signs of a fragile de-escalation of tensions between Iran and other Middle Eastern powers. • Market participants are shifting focus toward a busy week of corporate earnings, with a specific emphasis on the upcoming report from data analytics firm Palantir.

• The Japanese yen rose nearly 1% against the U.S. dollar on Monday as investors anticipated a potential coordinated currency intervention between Japan and the United States. • This rally is driven by market expectations that Japanese authorities will act to stabilize the currency, alongside shifting outlooks regarding the Bank of Japan's monetary policy.

• TechStock² shares are currently trading at $296.50, marking a 31.86% increase since the start of the year despite a recent 14.91% decline. • A valuation review suggests the stock is 2% overvalued, with a calculated fair value of $290.80.

• Major European stock markets trended higher during premarket trading on Monday as investors positioned themselves ahead of key economic reports. • Market participants are awaiting inflation data from Switzerland and Turkey, alongside manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) reports from the Eurozone, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

• Markets are monitoring the start of talks between the U.S. and Iran on Monday, following a volatile cycle of threats and diplomatic pullbacks. • Goldman Sachs has updated its European Conviction List, adding three specific stocks to its high-conviction recommendations.

• Choice International CEO Arun Poddar asserts that Indian equities remain attractive despite external risks, noting that the "India has no AI play" argument is weakening. • Poddar highlights that the AI and semiconductor rally is cooling in other markets, specifically citing sharp declines in South Korea's KOSPI and Taiwan's TAIEX.

• Motilal Oswal Wealth Management Research Desk has identified RR Kable and KFin Technologies as the top stock recommendations for the week starting August 3, 2026. • These specific picks are highlighted as high-potential investment opportunities for traders and investors looking to optimize their portfolios.

• The Indian stock market saw significant growth on Monday, with both the Sensex and Nifty 50 indices rising by approximately 1%. • This surge was primarily driven by a sharp decline in global oil prices following an announcement from US President Donald Trump regarding talks with Iran.