Equities

• European equity markets stabilized recently following a period of selling as investors prepare for an upcoming European Central Bank decision. • U.S. stock futures rose slightly after Wall Street experienced declines driven by higher bond yields. • Market participants are now awaiting the release of Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index data to gauge inflation trends.

• European equities dropped to session lows after the European Central Bank raised interest rates to their highest level since 2025. • The decision followed a surge in Eurozone headline inflation to 3.3% in August, driven by a 14.3% increase in energy costs. • Higher rates aim to stop rising energy prices from triggering a cycle of higher wage demands and service pricing across the region.

• South Korean stocks rose alongside a general climb in Asian equities, with MSCI’s Asia-Pacific equities gauge increasing by 0.3%. • The market gain was driven by cooling bets regarding the U.S. Federal Reserve's potential interest rate movements. • This shift reflects investor sentiment reacting to macroeconomic signals and a stabilization of expectations surrounding U.S. monetary policy.

• Indian equities are expected to open lower on August 25, 2026, as markets face pressure from geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the upcoming Nifty expiry. • Key global triggers include Brent crude futures hovering around $92 a barrel and a general slip in Asian shares ahead of Nvidia’s earnings report. • Geopolitical instability has intensified following Iran's pledge to retaliate against expanded economic sanctions imposed by the United States.

• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) infused Rs 23,544 crore into Indian equities during August, marking a significant shift in investment trends. • This surge follows four consecutive months of heavy selling and is driven by improving quarterly earnings, a stable rupee, and positive market prospects. • The trend is critical as it signals a return of foreign confidence in the Indian market after a period of sustained capital outflow.

• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) invested ₹23,544 crore into Indian equities during August, following a similar inflow of ₹20,200 crore in July. • This surge marks a significant turnaround after four consecutive months of heavy selling, driven primarily by strong corporate earnings and the stability of the Indian rupee. • The trend signals renewed global confidence in the Indian market, reversing previous bearish sentiment.

• Asian equities rallied on Thursday, led by South Korea's KOSPI index, which surged nearly 6% during intraday trading. • The surge was primarily driven by a more than 5% jump in SK Hynix shares following the company's announcement of a stock buyback. • This movement highlights the dominant influence of technology companies on the indices of major Asian economies, including Japan, South Korea, and China.

• A global bond market selloff on August 19 caused long-term government bond yields to surge to multi-year highs, triggering a broad decline in equity markets. • Asia-Pacific technology sectors were hit hardest, with South Korea's KOSPI plunging 5.8% and China's STAR 50 index dropping 6.89%. • In contrast, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index showed relative resilience by bucking the downward trend and recording a marginal gain.

• Asian equity markets declined today as a sharp selloff in semiconductor shares triggered a broader downturn across the region. • The bearish sentiment was driven by a combination of rising bond yields, escalating oil prices, and heightened Middle East tensions. • Investors are retreating from growth stocks due to mounting concerns over global inflation, increasing debt levels, and the impact of US monetary policy.

• European equities are narrowing the performance gap with the S&P 500, driven by accelerating earnings revisions across the region. • The DAX has led this trend, recording a 9.64% gain over the last three months, marking its fastest quarterly pace among major indices. • Specific recovery stories include Bayer, which is up 30.1% year-to-date at €48.27, and Commerzbank, which reflects a broader re-rating of European financials benefiting from sustained high interest rates.

• Indian equities remain attractive for long-term investment, driven by a recovery in corporate earnings, increased private capital expenditure, and new trade deals. • The Nifty index valuations are currently aligned with their 10-year average, suggesting a stable entry point for investors. • Despite geopolitical tensions, crude oil fluctuations, and corporate earnings volatility, Indian equities closed July with a 2.2 per cent gain.

• A new report released on August 10 indicates that Indian equities remain attractive for long-term investment despite recent market volatility. • The positive outlook is driven by a recovery in corporate earnings, an increase in private capital expenditure, and the potential for new trade deals. • Despite pressures from geopolitical tensions, crude oil price fluctuations, and earnings reports, Indian equities closed July with a 2.2 per cent gain.

• Fixed income trading in European banking remains a "two-tiered race" during Q2, as the sector continues to struggle in the shadow of equity markets. • BNP Paribas and Barclays are locked in a competitive struggle for dominance, while Societe Generale has successfully overtaken UBS in trading performance. • The trend highlights a significant disparity in how European banks are capturing fixed income revenue compared to the more robust equity trading sector.

• Choice International CEO Arun Poddar asserts that Indian equities remain attractive despite external risks, noting that the "India has no AI play" argument is weakening. • Poddar highlights that the AI and semiconductor rally is cooling in other markets, specifically citing sharp declines in South Korea's KOSPI and Taiwan's TAIEX. • The Indian rupee has stabilized following decisive actions by the RBI, including the implementation of the FCNR-B window.

• European equity markets have maintained growth and resilience following a strong performance in 2025, according to recent analyst reports. • The market's stability persists despite significant headwinds, including acute exposure to geopolitical shocks and ongoing macroeconomic challenges. • Analysts highlight that this growth is particularly notable given the region's relative lack of high-growth AI stocks compared to other global markets.

• The FTSE 100 index rose by 1.24% (131.06 points) to close at 10,716.97 on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, outperforming other major Western European benchmarks. • Investors are currently evaluating the new UK government's fiscal and regulatory priorities, specifically focusing on the composition of the finance ministry. • The rally occurs as markets anticipate the Bank of England's next policy decision, with a focus on how the bank will manage inflationary pressures caused by high energy costs.

• European equity markets recovered from a shaky start on July 20, 2026, with major indices ending the morning session slightly higher. • Oil prices retreated during the session as Iran indicated a willingness to consider mediation proposals. • The shift in sentiment reflects a cautious optimism among investors regarding geopolitical tensions and energy stability.

• Indian equities edged higher on July 16, 2026, as investors balanced domestic growth against various global economic risks. • Key international developments include the Bank of Korea raising interest rates for the first time in 3.5 years to combat inflation and TSMC anticipating record Q2 profits fueled by AI chip demand. • In Singapore, AirTrunk is preparing for a US$1.5 billion REIT IPO scheduled for later this year.

• Asian equities declined, with the South Korean Kospi leading the drop due to renewed selling pressure on semiconductor shares. • Crude oil prices continued to rise, driven by the impact of fresh military strikes in the Middle East. • Government bonds in Australia and New Zealand opened higher following the release of recent US inflation data.

• Indian equities, specifically the Nifty 50, are emerging as a "safe haven" for investors seeking a hedge against the volatility of the global AI-driven tech rally. • Investors are rotating capital into India to diversify portfolios as concerns grow over the sustainability of tech gains in markets like Taiwan and South Korea. • Market attractiveness is being bolstered by falling volatility, a stabilizing rupee, and reduced oil-linked pressures on the airline and refining sectors.

• Asian equities rebounded yesterday following data showing a sharp decline in new job creation, which reduced the likelihood of an imminent US Federal Reserve interest rate hike. • This recovery follows a period of significant volatility where foreign investors sold Asian equities at the fastest pace in 16 years during the first half of 2026. • Net sales totaling $137.4 billion were recorded through June 30, as investors took profits from an AI-driven rally across markets including South Korea, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

• The ASIFMA 2026 Asia-Pacific Capital Markets Survey has identified the top eight markets in the APAC region for ease of doing business. • Leading jurisdictions include Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, India, Taiwan, China Mainland, and South Korea. • The survey highlights 11 key product and service lines targeted for expansion, led by Equities, Fixed Income, FX, Asset Management, and ESG & Sustainability.

• Indian equities are facing a challenging period as investors seek to determine if the market can reverse a negative narrative of systemic decline. • While valuations are becoming more attractive, the recovery is currently hindered by significant geopolitical stress and a lack of earnings credibility. • This shift is critical for investors as they weigh the potential for a rebound against the risks of prolonged economic instability.

• The People's Bank of China conducted seven-day reverse repo operations in the open market, injecting RMB500 million in a single-day net operation to support market liquidity. • The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4% (17 points) to 4,162 at midday, while the Shenzhen Component Index dropped 0.9% (146 points) to 15,495, reflecting broader Asia-Pacific softness. • Technology stocks retreated across the region amid geopolitical tensions, though the PBOC's intervention signaled continued monetary support for Chinese equities.

• Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have sold Indian stocks on 150 out of the past 240 trading days, reflecting a sustained outflow trend over the last several months. • The selling pressure is attributed to rising oil prices, rupee weakness, and elevated US bond yields, which have made emerging market assets less attractive relative to US fixed income. • This persistent FII exit contrasts with India's overall attractiveness as a global investment destination and poses near-term headwinds for equity valuations.

• Young investors in Singapore are increasingly allocating funds to domestic stocks as a safe haven during volatile global markets. • The trend reflects a search for stability amid uncertainties in international equities and broader economic pressures. • Local market resilience draws this demographic, potentially boosting Singapore's exchange volumes and liquidity.

• US stock markets experienced sharp volatility in March 2026, with equities approaching correction territory before a month-end rally as oil prices surged significantly, driven by geopolitical events shaping the economic outlook. • Energy emerged as the strongest-performing sector, driving value stocks to materially outperform growth peers, while bond markets showed less stability than expected as inflation concerns contributed to higher rate volatility. • Despite market weakness and narrowing leadership, corporate profit expectations remained resilient with consensus earnings forecasts pointing to healthy growth in 2026, suggesting the selloff was driven by valuation reassessment rather than earnings deterioration.

• The leading U.S. medical school accreditation body, LCME, removed language from its 2027-2028 standards requiring schools to teach about health inequities and disparities. • The previous standards mandated instruction on "health care disparities" and "approaches to reduce health care inequities," which were replaced with language on self-directed learning skills. • The change comes as the Trump Department of Justice probes three medical schools, amid growing political pressure on diversity and equity initiatives in medical education.