Markets Business

• S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures rose slightly on Monday, August 10, as investors monitored geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. • Iran reported it is nearing a final agreement with Oman to define new shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, though it maintains that the U.S. must meet specific conditions before the waterway reopens. • Restoring energy flows through this strategic choke point is critical to mitigating oil price spikes, which have previously fueled global inflation and increased the likelihood of central bank interest rate hikes.

• European stocks remained steady on Monday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 holding its ground at 660.12 points. • Market stability follows a strong previous week where the benchmark climbed 1.7% to a record high, driven by strong corporate earnings and expectations of lower U.S. borrowing costs. • Current investor sentiment is being weighed down by elevated oil prices caused by uncertainty regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

• On August 7, 2026, the Indian stock market ended its two-day recovery as the Sensex fell 456 points and the Nifty 50 slipped. • The decline was primarily driven by weakness in banking and financial stocks, alongside concerns over elevated crude oil prices and regulatory issues for NBFCs. • Broader investor sentiment was weighed down by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, mirroring a mixed performance across Asian markets.

• European shares edged higher on Wednesday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index rising 0.4% to reach 659.29. • Investors are closely monitoring a combination of new corporate earnings reports and ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict. • The market movement reflects hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough that would end the war and reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.

• Asian stock markets surged on Wednesday, with the MSCI Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan) rising 2.3% and Chinese blue chips gaining 1.5%. • The rally was driven by strong corporate earnings and a renewed appetite for technology stocks, mirroring record highs on Wall Street and boosting Japan's Nikkei by 3.5%. • South Korea's market experienced significant volatility with a 4.3% increase, while oil prices and bond yields declined amid hopes for progress regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

• Indian stock markets ended in the red on August 4, 2026, with the Sensex dropping 210 points and the Nifty slipping 159 points. • The decline was driven by investor caution surrounding a new F&O closing-auction mechanism, rising crude oil prices, and weekly derivatives expiry. • Markets are currently awaiting the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) policy announcement, with traders focusing on the central bank's commentary regarding inflation risks and liquidity.

• On July 30, 2026, the Indian stock market closed in the green, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 driven higher primarily by gains in auto stocks. • In China, the central bank maintained the reverse repo rate at 1.25%, while foreign phone shipments surged 66% despite regulatory scrutiny in the solar sector. • Asian markets faced mixed results, with Hong Kong home prices rising for 13 consecutive months and Japan's Nikkei remaining choppy following a U.S. Fed decision.

• Indian stock markets defied a broader Asian downturn, with the Nifty 50 rising 1.1% to 24,250.2 and the BSE Sensex gaining 1.16% to 77,654.6. • The rally was primarily driven by gains in IT stocks, contrasting with a sharp correction in chip stocks across South Korea. • Geojit Investments strategist VK Vijayakumar suggests this shift may benefit India by reviving foreign investor interest in non-AI focused markets.

• Indian benchmark indices traded largely flat on July 28, 2026, with the Sensex closing 117.52 points (0.15%) lower at 76,718.26 and the Nifty 50 dropping 32.45 points (0.14%) to 23,963.50. • The range-bound movement followed a previous session rebound sparked by a significant decline in crude oil prices. • Investors remain cautious due to upcoming Q1 earnings reports and anticipation surrounding the U.S. Federal Reserve’s next policy decision.

• Indian benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty 50, traded largely flat or slightly lower on July 28, with the Sensex down 49.60 points (0.06%) to 76,786.18 by 1:31 p.m. • The range-bound movement follows a previous session's rebound sparked by a significant drop in crude oil prices. • Investors remain cautious due to upcoming Q1 earnings reports and the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision, as markets price in a potential rate hike.