Markets Daily

• Global markets maintained a positive tone on June 22, 2026, driven by progress in US-Iran peace talks and the US Treasury's decision to permit Iranian oil sales. • Oil prices dropped by more than 3% due to eased supply risks, while the US dollar saw a slight increase. • The British pound rose following the announcement of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation, with investors anticipating an orderly leadership transition.

• President Trump canceled planned U.S. military strikes on Iran following reports of advanced negotiations between the two nations. • The geopolitical shift triggered market volatility, causing Brent crude prices to drop nearly 3% to settle just above $90 per barrel. • Safe-haven assets saw a surge as gold prices rebounded by more than 3%, closing the session above $4,200 per ounce.

• Financial markets experienced a surge in risk-off sentiment on Thursday, June 11, 2026, triggered by a combination of economic and geopolitical factors. • Market volatility was initially driven by weakness in AI-related tech stocks and mixed May US CPI data, where headline inflation met expectations but core month-on-month figures fell below. • Geopolitical tensions escalated sharply after President Trump announced a second round of US strikes on Iran, which commenced around the US market close.

• US markets shifted asset allocations on Friday, June 8, 2026, following a May employment report that showed robust job growth for the third consecutive month. • The resilient labor market and persistent inflation risks have led investors to fully price in a Federal Reserve interest rate hike by the end of the year. • In response to these economic indicators, US Treasury yields increased, with the most significant rises occurring at the short end of the curve.

• Investor sentiment remained cautiously positive on June 5, 2026, driven by falling oil prices and hopes for a provisional peace deal between the US and Iran. • Global equity markets showed divergence, with the S&P 500 and European indices advancing while Asian markets and the Nasdaq declined. • The market shift was largely triggered by investors rotating away from chipmakers following weaker-than-expected guidance regarding AI growth.

• Wall Street has reached a new series of record highs, driven largely by the ongoing momentum of the AI trade. • Deutsche Bank warned that the current speed of the S&P 500 rally is unprecedented for an economy not emerging from a recession, drawing parallels to the period before the 1987 crash. • Market analysts are monitoring potential headwinds, including emerging trade tensions and diplomatic deadlocks regarding Iran, which could dampen investor sentiment.

• The US and Iran reached a provisional agreement on June 1, 2026, for a 60-day ceasefire to facilitate the resumption of nuclear program negotiations. • This geopolitical development led to a broad 2% decline in energy prices and a reduction in market-implied volatility. • Equity markets responded with mixed results in the euro area and gains in the US, while Asian stocks, specifically the Nikkei-225, saw the strongest performance.

• Financial markets opened the week of May 26, 2026, with a "risk-on" sentiment following signals from US officials and President Trump that a deal with Iran is nearing completion. • Trading volumes remained low across global markets due to bank holiday closures in the United States and the United Kingdom. • The positive shift in investor mood highlights the significant impact of geopolitical diplomacy on market volatility and risk appetite.