Down Markets

• Major AI-linked stocks experienced significant volatility, with Alphabet falling 15%, Meta dropping 10%, and Micron plunging 41% from its peak. • Conversely, Microsoft surged 8%, supported by Samsung's reports on chip shortages and Amazon's advancements in cloud computing. • European markets, specifically the DAX and STOXX, remained stable and did not panic despite the intermittent volatility and concerns over $255 billion in annual capital outlays.

• On July 20, the KOSPI closed down 4% in the 6500 range, while the KOSDAQ plunged 5%, triggering sell-side sidecar measures on both markets. • Market sentiment in the semiconductor sector was severely weakened by Kioxia's U.S. patent lawsuit defeat, which resulted in compensation orders exceeding 300 billion won. • Additional downward pressure came from news that Moonshot is preparing for an IPO on the Hong Kong stock market.

• Wall Street experienced a downturn on Friday as investors shifted away from the artificial intelligence sector due to growing concerns over frontier AI development. • In contrast to the U.S. market retreat, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) managed to edge slightly higher. • Global markets are reacting to volatility in tech valuations and a simultaneous jump in oil prices.

• US stock futures and Asian markets fell sharply on Friday following reports of significant technological breakthroughs by a Chinese artificial intelligence company. • Market impacts were severe in Asia, with South Korean and Taiwanese indexes dropping over 6% and Japanese markets closing down 4%. • Nasdaq futures declined 1.6%, reflecting investor anxiety similar to January 2025 when DeepSeek's AI model challenged the perceived dominance of US technology.

• Global stock markets declined on Thursday, led by a slump in AI-related stocks and computer chipmakers, causing the S&P 500 to fall 0.5%. • International markets saw significant drops, with Tokyo falling 2.8% and Shanghai sliding 1.8%, though Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.3% following China's approval of Apple Intelligence. • Despite the market dip, U.S. economic indicators remained positive, showing fewer unemployment benefit applications and stronger-than-expected manufacturing growth in the mid-Atlantic region.

• Asian stock markets plummeted on Friday, led by Tokyo's Nikkei 225, which dropped more than 5% due to heavy selling of AI-related shares and computer chipmakers. • Taiwan's markets saw a significant decline of 5.9%, following news that TSMC, the world's largest contract chip manufacturer, intends to invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. fabrication plants. • This downturn reflects a broader global trend where slumping AI stocks are dragging world markets lower, signaling a shift in investor sentiment toward the tech sector.

• Global stock markets declined as shares of computer chipmakers and other AI-driven companies experienced a significant slump. • Major indexes saw notable losses, including a 1.8% drop in Shanghai and a 2.8% decrease in Tokyo. • Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 1.3%, bolstered by Alibaba's growth after China's cyberspace regulator approved the Apple Intelligence AI tool.

• Global stock markets declined on Thursday as slumping AI-related shares and computer chipmakers dragged down indexes worldwide. • The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, while international markets saw sharper drops, including a 1.8% decline in Shanghai and a 2.8% dip in Tokyo. • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 1.3%, bolstered by Alibaba's gains after China's cyberspace regulator approved the Apple Intelligence AI tool.

• European Union regulators are launching a massive crackdown on multibillion-dollar prediction markets, focusing on whether these platforms function as derivatives regardless of their commercial labeling. • The regulatory scrutiny targets high-growth platforms like Kalshi, which reached a valuation of $22 billion in its most recent funding round. • Market dynamics are shifting as Jump Trading has begun taking small stakes in both Kalshi and Polymarket to provide essential liquidity.

• GIFT Nifty declined on Tuesday, signaling a likely weak opening for India's benchmark Sensex and Nifty indices. • Market sentiment has been dampened by escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which have contributed to rising global oil prices. • Investors are maintaining a cautious approach as geopolitical instability in the Middle East creates volatility across Asian markets.

• Oil prices surged as tensions escalated between the USA and Iran, causing WTI futures to gain 6% and settle around $92 a barrel. • Brent futures, the international benchmark, rose by 5% to reach 95 dollars, reversing a trend where WTI had previously seen a sharp 17% decline in May. • While oil prices climbed, global stock markets reacted with volatility, though Tokyo and Hong Kong saw gains of 1% and 0.8% respectively, driven by technology stocks.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached all-time closing highs, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 jumping 2.5% to 66,329.50 and South Korea’s Kospi surging 3.6% to 8,476.15. • The rally was driven by optimism that the U.S. and Iran will extend their ceasefire, alongside lower-than-expected core inflation data in Tokyo for May. • Technology stocks fueled the gains, particularly in South Korea where Samsung Electronics rose 5.8% due to the global artificial intelligence boom.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached new record highs as global shares generally advanced. • The rally is driven by investor optimism that the U.S. and Iran will agree to extend their current ceasefire by 60 days. • Other regional markets showed mixed results, with Taiwan's Taiex rising 2.5% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gaining 1.6%, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.7% to 4,068.57.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached new record highs as global shares generally advanced. • The surge is driven by investor optimism that the United States and Iran will agree to extend their current ceasefire, potentially winding down the conflict. • Other regional markets showed mixed results, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng rising 0.7% to 25,182.39 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbing 1.6%, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.7%.