Stock Market Today: Major Indexes Drop, Oil Prices Soar as Trump Says Iran Truce ‘Over,’ Threatens Further Attacks; Dow Sheds 800 Points

• Wall Street banks are increasing their deployment of AI-powered digital assistants to enhance operational productivity and efficiency. • According to Richard James, head of AI product at UBS, these tools aggregate internal data from emails, accounts, and meetings to support decision-making.

• Deutsche Bank's stock remains steady as investors evaluate the lender's capital strength, profitability, and exposure to international markets. • The bank is currently undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at simplifying its business structure and improving capital ratios to enhance overall stability.

• Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller stated that another high inflation reading would serve as a "signal" regarding the central bank's future policy direction. • Waller highlighted that the U.S. labor market remains resilient, citing persistently strong job reports and a stable unemployment rate.

• Singapore's economy grew by 5.7% in the second quarter, surpassing the 5.5% growth forecast by analysts. • While the expansion beat expectations, it represents a slowdown compared to the revised 6.3% growth recorded in the first quarter.

• ASEAN's financial landscape is undergoing a strategic reshaping as companies diversify manufacturing locations and investors target fast-growing regional economies. • The region is evolving into a dual-purpose entity, strengthening its position as both a global production hub and a critical financial connector.

• Asian stock markets extended their losses, with Singapore's Straits Times Index dropping 1% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipping 0.5%. • The decline is driven by a surge in oil prices, which has intensified investor concerns regarding global inflation.

• Oil prices surged 2% to a four-week high following the United States' decision to reinstate a naval blockade on Iran. • The price spike is driven by escalating military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy shipments.

• South Korea's bourse operator activated a circuit breaker for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) on Monday, July 13. • The emergency measure was triggered after stocks experienced a sharp tumble, driven by renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

• The KOSPI index plummeted nearly 9 percent on Monday, falling below the 7,000 mark in a severe "Black Monday" sell-off. • The decline was driven by a rout in semiconductor shares, which overshadowed the U.S. debut of SK hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

• Foreign investors continued to be net sellers of South Korean equities in June, marking the fifth consecutive month of outflows. • This trend persisted despite a significant tech-led rally within the local stock market during the same period.

• South Korea's benchmark Kospi index plunged 5% on Tuesday, extending a two-day decline of nearly 14% and pushing the market into bear territory. • The index has crashed over 31% from its June peak following a significant tech-led rally, though it maintains an overall gain of more than 50% for 2026.

• Singapore's economy grew by 5.7% in the second quarter of 2026, marking a slowdown compared to the growth seen in Q1. • The deceleration was primarily driven by eased expansion within the construction and trade sectors.