U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index Falls to 67.0 in Q1 2026

• Eurozone headline inflation rose from 2.9% to 3.3% in August, reaching a peak since the onset of the Middle East conflict. • Despite the headline increase, core inflation remained contained, falling back to 2.4% as underlying price pressures stayed surprisingly benign.

• Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, including Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, and Czechia, will release flash inflation estimates for August this week. • The week's economic agenda also focuses on the release of the second-quarter 2026 GDP structure data for most nations in the region.

• Euro zone inflation has risen above 3%, prompting expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will hike interest rates in September. • The surge is largely attributed to rising energy costs driven by the conflict in Iran, complicating the ECB's monetary policy.

• European government bond yields have surged to their highest levels in over 15 years due to a deepening global bond sell-off. • Benchmark borrowing costs hit record highs on Tuesday for Germany, with France, Italy, and the Netherlands experiencing similarly steep increases.

• European shares declined on Tuesday, September 1, as rising government bond yields pressured investors who are bracing for higher interest rates. • The downturn follows a period of growth where the STOXX 600 reached a record high in early August, though a recent selloff has since reduced the index by 2%.

• Global equity futures tumbled as long-term bond yields reached multi-year highs, driven by persistent inflation pressures. • Oil prices surged following an escalation in tensions involving Iran, adding further volatility to global energy markets.

• Morgan Stanley has updated its ratings for Nordic banks, identifying preferred stocks based on profitability and business model stability. • Analysts highlighted that some institutions remain "structurally challenged," specifically noting that international operations are diluting overall group profitability.

• JPMorgan has placed two European consumer staples stocks on its "positive catalyst watch," signaling expectations for upcoming events that could drive share prices higher. • The move indicates that the investment bank anticipates specific triggers or positive developments for these companies in the near term.

• Goldman Sachs has updated its "Conviction List," identifying five high-dividend stocks that analysts believe are positioned to outperform the broader market. • The selected stocks are noted for being established companies that offer unusually high yields for their stability, with one specific pick yielding over 6%.

• Indian stock markets are expected to open cautiously, with GIFT Nifty trading around 24,200, down approximately 0.11%. • Global market sentiment is being pressured by rising crude oil prices, with Brent crude climbing above $90 per barrel due to renewed US-Iran tensions.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,588.68 points on September 1, 2026, marking a decrease of 6.48 points or 0.41%. • The total trading value for the session reached THB 72.56 billion.

• On September 1, 2026, the Indian stock market closed with mixed results, as the Sensex ended 12 points down and the Nifty 50 closed at 24,055. • The decline was primarily driven by losses in the banking and automotive sectors, fueled by rising crude oil prices.