Philippines net external liability widens to $54.9 billion

• The BSE Sensex plummeted 715 points and the Nifty50 closed below 24,000 on Tuesday, marking the second consecutive session of losses for Indian benchmark indices. • HDFC Bank was a primary driver of the decline, with its stock falling 2.08% to Rs 761.45 following disappointing June-quarter earnings.

• The Asia session was primarily influenced by Japanese trade data, a weakening Japanese yen, and persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. • Key market drivers for July 22, 2026, include the U.S. EIA crude oil inventory report and high-profile U.S. corporate earnings.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported in its July Bulletin that the Indian economy has successfully navigated external uncertainties, leading to a recovery in foreign investments. • This trend indicates a revival of global investor confidence despite ongoing risks from fragile geopolitics and persistent supply chain pressures.

• The KOSPI index experienced a significant surge, rising from a low of 2,284.72 on April 9 last year to 9,385.59 by June 19 of this year. • This growth followed the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration, which helped stabilize the political climate after a disruptive martial law incident.

• Indian equity indices declined moderately, with the BSE Sensex dropping 238 points and the Nifty 50 slipping by 51 points. • The downturn was driven by profit-booking following a recent rally and heightened geopolitical uncertainties.

• South Korean retail investors are returning to high-risk leveraged financial instruments despite a history of severe losses. • This trend is fueling concerns among analysts that volatile stock market movements could trigger an abrupt and chaotic unwinding of these speculative wagers.

• Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has increased its capital expenditures (CAPEX) guidance, sparking a rally in the domestic stock market. • This positive momentum contributed to a significant surge in the KOSPI, which rose by over 3%.

• US stock markets showed mixed results, with the Dow Jones edging higher while the Nasdaq slipped amid fluctuating investor sentiment. • Market volatility was driven by a surge in AI-related stocks like Nvidia and AMD, contrasted by crashes in major firms including Amazon, Microsoft, and Adobe.

• U.S. stock markets opened with mixed results on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, with the Dow Jones posting minor gains while the NASDAQ and S&P 500 declined. • The market downturn was driven by rising oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions, which countered investor optimism.

• Global markets are showing mixed results as investors exercise caution ahead of upcoming earnings reports from major U.S. technology companies. • Wall Street futures have dipped into the red, offsetting strong gains seen across major North American markets during the previous trading session.

• Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama announced on Wednesday that the government is prepared to take "decisive action" in the foreign-exchange markets if necessary. • While signaling readiness to intervene, Katayama declined to specify the exact currency levels or exchange rates that would trigger such a move.

• The iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (EWH) climbed above its critical 200-day moving average of $22.52 on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. • The ETF reached a session high of $22.55 and saw an overall gain of approximately 1%, closing most recently at $22.54.