Mixed

• South Korea's Kospi index reached a new record high on Tuesday as Asia-Pacific markets generally trended higher. • The positive momentum is driven by investor optimism regarding potential breakthroughs in peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. • Other regional markets showed mixed results, with China's CSI 300 opening unchanged and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slipping 0.49% after a Monday public holiday.

• U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday to discuss U.S.-China relations, Taiwan, and economic cooperation, with no major breakthroughs expected by analysts. • Asian markets were mixed: Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1% to 62,654.05 after hitting an intraday record above 63,700; South Korea's Kospi rose 1.8% to a record 7,981.41 driven by AI tech stocks; Shanghai Composite dropped 1.5% to 4,177.92 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng flatlined at 26,389.04. • The leaders agreed the Strait of Hormuz must remain open amid the ongoing Iran war over two months old, with hopes Beijing could leverage ties with Tehran; U.S. crude dipped 0.2% to $100.86 per barrel.

• Wall Street traded mixed on Wednesday morning, with the S&P 500 down 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 235 points or 0.5% at 9:35 a.m. ET, and Nasdaq up 0.2% amid a technology sector rebound. • Tech stocks like Micron Technology surged 4.3% and Nvidia rose 2.4%, the top gainer on the S&P 500, following a pause in AI-driven momentum; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was invited by President Trump to discuss AI chip shipments to China. • A wholesale inflation report showed prices significantly higher than expected last month, following Tuesday's consumer inflation acceleration, driven by rising fuel, transportation, food prices from tariffs, weather, and oil disruptions from the Iran war.

• Asian markets opened lower but mostly recovered on May 13, with MSCI Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rebounding to a 0.3% gain after an initial 1% drop, driven by AI optimism offsetting US inflation and stalled US-Iran talks. • Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.8% to around 62,774, South Korea's Kospi surged 2.6% to a record 7,708-7,844 after falling 3.2% on Samsung Electronics' failed union pay deal, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3% to 8,645. • Brent crude fell 1.4% to $106.32 and US crude to $101.60 amid Middle East tensions, US 10-year Treasury yield eased to 4.459%, and dollar held steady at 98.369 against peers.

Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson says his objective is to ‘defeat’ changes to capital gains and negative gearing. Follow today’s news liveSee all our Australia budget 2026 coverageGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Coalition said last night it would repeal changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing if elected as it tried to hit back at Labor’s budget measures.The shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, told Sky News the prime minister promised not to touch the incentives during last year’s election campaign and that therefore Labor did not have a mandate for the reforms.We’ll repeal these measures if necessary, but our objective is to defeat them and to make sure that they’re never legislated. Because this government doesn’t have licence from the Australian community support these changes. Continue reading...

• Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 0.3% on May 7 to 4,941.96, led by Venture Corp's 10.9% rise to $18.28, before dipping 0.4% to 4,921.90 on May 8. • The movement reflects selective strength in tech amid broader Asia market caution. • Venture's gains highlight investor confidence in Singapore electronics manufacturing resilience.

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gave Singapore a mixed review on Wednesday, praising its stability but warning of vulnerabilities as a global financial hub. • Singapore's wealth and political stability attract illicit actors seeking to launder funds, prompting FATF to urge stronger oversight measures. • The assessment impacts Singapore's reputation in international finance, potentially affecting banking regulations and cross-border transactions.

• Wall Street stocks traded mixed early Monday, May 4, 2026, as rising oil prices from Middle East conflict offset robust US corporate earnings expectations. • Oil prices edged higher after Iran's military warned it would attack US forces entering the Strait of Hormuz, following President Donald Trump's announcement to guide ships through the waterway. • Major indices remain near record highs, supported by encouraging inflation data and resilient earnings season, though investors eye the April jobs report.

• The Federal Reserve maintained interest rates unchanged at its latest meeting but signaled a more hawkish stance, shifting investor sentiment regarding future policy direction. • Tech sector earnings continued to show strong numbers, though stock market reactions remained mixed, with the S&P 500 rising 1% for the week as equities powered through higher oil prices and a backup in yields. • Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced he will not retire after his term ends next month, committing to serve as a constructive governor rather than a shadow Fed chair.

• U.S. stock futures were slightly down or mixed on Monday morning as investors reacted to stalled peace talks between the United States and Iran. • The geopolitical tension created uncertainty in markets, with traders reassessing risk positions amid the diplomatic impasse. • Energy and defense sectors showed particular sensitivity to the developments, reflecting concerns about potential escalation.

• The S&P 500 index closed at 6,450.06, down 16.52 points or 0.26%, reflecting cautious trading in US equities over the past day. • Broader market showed divergence with Dow Jones ETF down 0.16% at 492.21, while S&P ETF rose 0.77% to 713.94 and Nasdaq QQQ gained 1.88% to 663.88. • Gold prices fell to 4,725.40 per ounce, down 15.50, amid shifting investor risk appetite ahead of economic data releases.

Non-appearance of Pam Bondi and remarks from Todd Blanche suggest full accounting may never be revealedIn the days since Pam Bondi’s exit from Donald Trump’s justice department, Jeffrey Epstein survivors and transparency advocates have been confronted by mixed messaging, prompting questions about whether a full accounting of his crimes would ever be revealed.Legal veterans told the Guardian that authorities’ decisions – such as Bondi’s failure to appear for a congressional subpoena about her handling of Epstein investigative files – portend poorly for accountability. Moreover, her replacement’s comments about the status of Epstein investigations has been perceived by some as an effort to acknowledge prior missteps without presenting definitive solutions. Continue reading...

• Wall Street stocks closed mixed on Friday, April 10, 2026, with S&P 500 down 0.1% at 6,816.89, Dow dropping 0.6% to 47,916.47, and Nasdaq up 0.4% to 22,902.90 amid anticipation of U.S.-Iran talks post-ceasefire. • Healthcare stocks led declines with Eli Lilly falling 1.8% and Johnson & Johnson down 1.3%, offset by tech gains including Nvidia up 3% and Broadcom rising 5.3%. • Oil prices slipped while major indexes recovered most March losses from Iran conflict, now just 2.3% below S&P 500's January all-time high, though volatility persists on war news.

• US stock indexes showed mixed performance on Monday morning with S&P 500 up 0.1%, Dow down 0.1% or 46 points, and Nasdaq up 0.3% amid ceasefire mediation efforts. • President Trump threatened to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges by Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, stating 'you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!' on social media. • Gasoline prices hit $4.12 per gallon nationally, up from below $3 before late February US-Israel attacks, pressuring the economy despite strong March jobs data.

• Major US indexes showed mixed performance with DJIA ETF down 0.09% at 465.06, S&P ETF up 0.09% at 655.83, and QQQ up 0.11% at 584.98. • Energy sector outperformed daily with +0.59% gain and +29.41% YTD, while Financial Services lagged at +0.29% daily but -10.46% YTD; Telecom led daily at +2.57%. • Commodities volatile: Oil surged 11.93% to $112.06, Gold dropped 2.29% to $4,702.70, Bitcoin fell 0.31% to $66,724.

• President Trump stated US objectives in the Iran conflict are nearly achieved yet simultaneously threatened even more intense strikes in the weeks ahead, creating confusion about American strategy. • With no declared exit strategy and rising fears of Iranian retaliation, analysts question whether the military campaign is winding down or entering a more dangerous phase. • UK-led talks planned for next week in London will include plans for possible military actions to clear the Strait of Hormuz, with the US not involved in these negotiations.

Speaking in South Korea, the French president defended the transatlantic alliance and called for return to peaceMiddle East crisis – live updatesEmmanuel Macron has sharply criticised Donald Trump’s inconsistent and often contradictory pronouncements on the Iran war and Nato, saying if “you want to be serious” it was better not to come out with a something different every day.“There is too much talk … and it’s all over the place,” the French president said on Thursday during a state visit to South Korea. “We all need stability, calm, a return to peace – this isn’t a show!” Continue reading...

• The Trump administration has proposed a federal regulation that would prohibit families with mixed immigration status from receiving housing assistance or living in public or Section 8 housing. • The proposal could evict approximately 80,000 people, including 37,000 children who are U.S. citizens, forcing mixed-status families to choose between homelessness or separation. • Advocates argue the rule directly targets immigrant families and contradicts current policy allowing federal housing assistance for families with mixed legal status, where the government only pays for individuals with legal status.

• U.S. equities showed mixed performance in early trading on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with technology stocks under pressure while energy and financial sectors gained ground. • The mixed market action reflects ongoing uncertainty around Federal Reserve rate policy and its impact on different economic sectors, with tech facing particular headwinds. • Technology stocks continued to face selling pressure as investors reassess valuations amid expectations for interest rate changes and macroeconomic conditions.

The US stock market displayed divergent performance on Friday, March 13, 2026, with the S&P 500 falling to 6,658 (down 14 points), the Nasdaq dropping 100 points to 22,211, while the Dow Jones held relatively steady near 46,702 amid rising geopolitical tensions and volatile oil prices. The VIX volatility index remained elevated at 26.49, signaling sustained market uncertainty, and the S&P 500 is tracking its first three-week losing streak in approximately one year, down roughly 1.1% for the week. Institutional investors and hedge funds reduced risk positions ahead of the weekend, with analysts attributing the decline to normal profit-taking after strong gains in AI and semiconductor stocks earlier in 2026. Key market watchers noted that smart money was likely to remain in defensive positions until clarity emerged regarding the Strait of Hormuz and potential ceasefire negotiations.