S&P 500 and Nasdaq Post Largest Monthly Gains Since 2020 Amid Strong April Earnings

• Investors are awaiting a critical series of labor market reports this week, including the Jobs report, JOLTS data, the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, and ISM manufacturing data. • These indicators will provide essential data on employment trends and economic activity to help determine if the labor market remains stable.

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India is expected to maintain an economic growth rate of 7% or higher for the 2026-27 financial year. • This projection comes despite significant global economic uncertainties and ongoing supply chain disruptions that could impact international trade.

• European stock markets experienced a decline as escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered investor anxiety. • The geopolitical instability has led to a spike in crude oil prices and increased market bets on hawkish monetary policy.

• Economic sentiment in the euro area is strengthening, with the European Commission’s Economic Sentiment Indicator rising 1.3 points to 98.4 and Germany’s Ifo business climate index increasing 2.1 points to 88.8. • Barclays reports a broad increase in confidence across all major sectors, noting that manufacturing firms are particularly optimistic about their outlook.

• The Indian stock market declined on Monday, with the Sensex ending 307 points lower and the Nifty 50 falling below the 24,100 mark. • The downturn was driven by investor concerns over rising US bond yields and hawkish comments from US Fed Chair Kevin Warsh regarding potential interest rate hikes.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,595.16 points on August 31, 2026, marking an increase of 6.94 points (0.44%) with a total trading value of THB 75.81 billion. • The market experienced volatility, trading lower during the morning session due to concerns over the U.S. Federal Reserve's hawkish monetary policy stance.

• India's economy grew by 7.8% during the April-June quarter, reflecting strong macroeconomic momentum. • The growth figure indicates a robust expansion of the country's overall GDP during the first quarter of the fiscal period.

• Indian companies are accelerating share sales with the goal of raising over $20 billion to capitalize on strong investor demand and improving market sentiment. • Firms are primarily utilizing Qualified Institutional Placements (QIPs) to secure capital for strategic expansions, new acquisitions, and the reduction of existing debt.

• The EUR/USD currency pair rose to approximately 1.1590 during early European trading on Monday, maintaining a bullish trend above the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA). • Potential gains may be capped as traders increase bets on a U.S. interest rate hike following hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh.

• Investors are closely monitoring the U.S. stock market as they await critical economic data this week. • The primary focus is the August jobs report, which is scheduled for release on Friday morning.

• Motilal Oswal Wealth Management Research Desk has released its top stock recommendations for the week beginning August 31, 2026. • The research desk specifically identified Titan and L&T Finance as the primary stocks to buy for investors.

• Analyst Neil Sethi outlines the key economic and equity drivers for the week of August 30, 2026, focusing on valuations, sentiment, and Federal Reserve activity. • The Q2 earnings season concludes with 10 S&P 500 components reporting, including high-market-cap firms Broadcom (AVGO) on Wednesday, as well as Dell, Medtronic (MDT), and Palo Alto Networks (PANW).