Mark

• The bond market experienced volatility on Friday as investors increased bets that the Federal Reserve will soon raise interest rates to combat high inflation. • U.S. stocks drifted slightly lower following a speech by Chairman Kevin Warsh, which reinforced the belief that the Fed is committed to lowering inflation. • This shift is significant because it suggests the Federal Reserve is willing to accept short-term economic pain to ensure long-term price stability.

• The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has warned that the dominance of Big Tech companies threatens the UK's ability to remain competitive in the global AI race. • The think tank criticized the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for failing to create an environment where smaller competitors can thrive against tech giants. • To address these gaps, the IPPR recommends that the UK government provide the CMA with an updated strategic steer to ensure more proactive and bold enforcement.

• A recent report indicates that users in Latvia and Lithuania are less likely to pay for streaming services compared to other EU nations, where 32.7% of internet users hold paid subscriptions. • Separately, a coalition including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Sweden is urging the EU to scale back its proposed 2028-2034 budget. • These countries are seeking to reduce the original budget plan of nearly 2 trillion euros by several hundred billion euros to ensure fiscal sustainability.

• Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Friday, following positive momentum from Wall Street and the tech-heavy Nasdaq. • Gains were partially offset by rising crude oil prices, which have renewed investor concerns regarding inflation. • Key corporate developments include Alibaba proposing an HK$80 billion equity placement for AI infrastructure and JATT III Acquisition Corp pricing a $60 million IPO at $10 per share.

National Park Service, which backs the 250ft arch, says it is likely to disrupt historical significance of dozens of sitesA new National Park Service report backs Donald Trump’s proposed arch, despite what it says are adverse effects to the sightlines of a host of landmarks in Washington, including the Washington Monument and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.The report released Friday says the 250ft-tall (76-meter) memorial arch is likely to disrupt the historical significance of dozens of sites near its planned location adjacent to the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration's military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, reached its six-month mark this Friday. • Tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz, where ongoing attacks on commercial shipping continue to disrupt global oil flows. • As part of "Operation Economic Outcast," the U.S. Treasury Department is targeting Banque Misr UAE to sever a critical financial lifeline used by the Iranian regime for sanctions evasion.

• The FDA has approved a landmark drug designed to treat pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease. • The medication utilizes a new therapeutic approach by blocking a specific protein that fuels tumor growth in the vast majority of pancreatic cancer cases. • This approval is significant because the drug has demonstrated a measurable ability to improve patient survival rates.

• The Busan International Film Festival has unveiled its Carte Blanche lineup and expanded its Story Market with new intellectual property (IP) from Thailand and Hong Kong. • As the ACFM Country of Honor, Thailand contributed five remake titles, including "Midnight Incense" and "Home for Rent," with a pitching session scheduled for Oct. 10 and business meetings through Oct. 13. • Hong Kong's contribution, selected by the CCIDA, includes four IP selections consisting of three animated shorts and one comic covering genres from AI thrillers to culinary drama.

• Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh delivered a speech at Jackson Hole on Friday, suggesting that policymakers may still "have work to do" if inflation does not return to the 2 per cent target. • The remarks were interpreted by some as the closest Warsh has come to acknowledging that further interest rate hikes could be necessary to curb inflation. • Market analysts, including Jamie Cox and Brian Jacobsen, viewed the speech as a strategic attempt to remain noncommittal and avoid pre-announcing policy intentions, reminiscent of Alan Greenspan's approach.

• German bond yields increased across both short-dated and longer-dated maturities as investors reacted to persistent inflation risks. • The market shift reflects growing uncertainty regarding the European Central Bank's future interest-rate path and fluctuations in French and Italian bond spreads. • This volatility highlights the sensitivity of European debt markets to inflation data and the broader geopolitical economic climate.

• Global markets remained in a "wait-and-see" mode today as investors anticipate a speech by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole symposium tomorrow. • Recent economic indicators included a wider-than-expected US trade deficit for July, weekly jobless claims holding steady at 203k, and a slight increase in German consumer confidence. • Despite these data releases, interest rate markets have not adjusted their current positioning, viewing the upcoming Fed event as the primary driver of volatility.

• Brokers project a neutral outlook for the Thai stock market on August 28, 2026, as investors await critical signals from tonight's Jackson Hole symposium. • Yuanta has adopted a conservative profit forecast for Delta Thailand, citing supply constraints that are currently limiting the company's production capacity. • Market participants are balancing these concerns against positive catalysts, including recent domestic economic data and general global market movements.

• Stock markets surged yesterday, led by a significant jump in AI bellwether Nvidia, which rose more than 8%. • The Nasdaq outperformed other indices with a gain of nearly 1.6%, while the S&P 500 rose 0.7% and the DJI increased 0.2%. • The S&P 500 is now positioned less than 3% away from its all-time highs established in May.

• Global markets are bracing for volatility as traders return from holiday breaks, focusing on geopolitical tensions and their impact on energy prices. • Investors are closely monitoring upcoming policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to gauge interest rate trajectories. • Market risks are being compounded by the rapid rise of AI valuations, fiscal challenges across Europe, and political uncertainty surrounding the U.S. midterm elections.

• Asia-Pacific markets showed mixed but generally positive movement, with Australia's ASX 200 rising 0.31% to 9,066.30 and China's SSEC increasing 0.24% to 3,965.98, though South Korea's KOSPI fell 1.03% to 6,841.49. • Investors are closely monitoring the Jackson Hole Symposium for upcoming remarks from Fed Chair Warsh, which are expected to provide guidance on future monetary policy. • Simultaneously, oil prices have climbed due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, adding volatility to the global economic landscape.

• Technology stocks rose on Thursday, Aug 27, following blockbuster earnings from Nvidia that alleviated investor concerns regarding the sustainability of the AI investment boom. • While Asian chip firms saw gains, the positive momentum was tempered by new US economic data indicating stubbornly high inflation. • The market reaction was mixed globally, with European stocks mostly trending lower following a volatile session in Asian markets.

• Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is set to deliver his first speech at the Jackson Hole symposium in 2026. • The address occurs amid challenging economic conditions, including sticky inflation, elevated oil prices, and fluctuating interest rate expectations. • Investors are closely monitoring the event for critical clues regarding the Federal Reserve's future monetary policy path.

• Asian markets traded quietly on Thursday, August 27, 2026, as investors awaited a Friday speech by Warsh at Jackson Hole. • The Bank of Korea raised its policy rate to 3.00% from 2.75%, marking the second consecutive rate hike for the institution. • Nvidia reported strong Q2 fiscal 2027 results, with CFO Colette Kress projecting fiscal 2028 revenue growth of approximately 70%, significantly exceeding the 44% analyst forecast.

• Asian chip firms rallied on Thursday following strong earnings reports from Nvidia, which helped alleviate market concerns regarding the sustainability of the AI investment boom. • Nvidia's performance continues to serve as a primary bellwether for the industry, driven by massive hardware purchases from AI giants including Microsoft, Amazon, OpenAI, and xAI. • Despite the rally in tech stocks, broader market gains were tempered by new U.S. economic data indicating that inflation remains stubbornly high.

• Tech stocks rose on Thursday following blockbuster earnings from Nvidia, which helped alleviate investor concerns regarding the sustainability of the AI investment boom. • The market gains were partially offset by new US economic data indicating that inflation remains stubbornly high, tempering overall investor euphoria. • Broader global markets struggled, with European stocks mostly lower and Asian markets in Tokyo and Hong Kong both closing slightly down.

• Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium this Friday morning. • Financial markets are closely monitoring the speech for specific assurances regarding inflation control, the Fed's balance sheet, and ongoing Treasury market turmoil. • The event is critical as investors seek clarity on the central bank's strategy to stabilize the economy and manage volatility in government securities.

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted leaders from Austria, Denmark, and Finland in Berlin on Thursday to coordinate a strategy among "frugal" EU member states. • The meeting serves as preparation for upcoming negotiations regarding the European Union's joint budget for the 2028-2034 seven-year period. • This alliance, which also includes the Netherlands and Sweden, advocates for tighter spending discipline, often clashing with nations like Italy, Spain, and Poland that favor higher spending.

• India's entertainment and media market is projected to grow to $36.7 billion by 2030, according to a report by PwC. • A primary driver of this growth is internet advertising revenue, which is expected to nearly double from $7.5 billion in 2025 to $14.3 billion by 2030. • This specific sector is forecasted to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9 per cent over the period.

• Bally's has raised substantial doubt regarding its ability to continue as a going concern due to a heavy debt burden. • The company is currently pursuing various financing alternatives to stabilize its financial position and avoid insolvency. • Separately, SlateStone Wealth strategist Erin Gibbs noted that U.S. stocks are climbing as bond yields retreat.

First robot-assisted outlet opens in Liverpool to take on Shein and supermarkets in clothing, shoes and homewares Business live – latest updatesThe owner of Zara is taking on Primark, Shein and the supermarkets with the launch of its cut-price chain Lefties in Britain, backed by an army of robots.The Spanish fashion brand opened its first UK store in Liverpool on Thursday, a few weeks after quietly launching its UK website. Continue reading...

• Nvidia is scheduled to report its second-quarter financial results this Wednesday after the US market closes. • Analysts are anticipating revenue of approximately $92 billion, focusing heavily on the company's future guidance. • The report is viewed as a critical bellwether for the broader market to determine if the current AI-driven rally is sustainable.

• The Nifty 50 is expected to open mildly positive, with GIFT Nifty September 2026 futures rising by 5.50 points. • Asian markets advanced for a third consecutive session, driven primarily by gains in technology shares following the release of Nvidia's financial results. • In a separate economic move, the Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.00% on Thursday to combat persistent inflation.

• The global AI Infrastructure Market is projected to grow from USD 39.56 billion in 2026 to USD 172.42 billion by 2035, fueled by generative AI and advanced computing. • Market concentration is high, with the top two players controlling approximately 69% of the share; hardware currently leads the sector at 67%, while Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) account for 47%. • North America dominates the regional landscape with a 41% share, followed by Asia-Pacific at 31%, where countries like China, India, and Japan are expanding computing capacity.