Mps

• Oil prices surged on Monday, July 20, 2026, following reports that the conflict between the US and Iran has escalated, resulting in attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. • In separate financial news, South Korea announced plans to ease access to the won as part of a broader strategic goal to make the currency freely convertible. • These developments are driving volatility across Asia-Pacific markets, as energy security concerns clash with regional currency reforms.

• Indian stock markets declined on Monday, with the Sensex slumping 600 points and the Nifty testing the 24,200 level. • The selloff was primarily driven by escalating Iran-US tensions and investor concerns over rising Brent crude oil prices. • Market performance was mixed across sectors, as Axis and HDFC Bank shares dropped while Tech Mahindra and Bharti Airtel saw gains.

• Wall Street experienced a downturn on Friday as investors shifted away from the artificial intelligence sector due to growing concerns over frontier AI development. • In contrast to the U.S. market retreat, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) managed to edge slightly higher. • Global markets are reacting to volatility in tech valuations and a simultaneous jump in oil prices.

• The Parliament's Monsoon Session opened with a clash between the Centre and Opposition parties over the government's recognition of the NCPI. • The NCPI is a newly formed party consisting of 20 rebel MPs from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), a move that strengthens the NDA's position in the Lok Sabha. • This political shift is significant as it pushes the NDA closer to achieving a two-thirds majority mark in the lower house.

• Entry-level hiring in South Korea's semiconductor industry surged by 47% during the first half of the year, according to data released by JobKorea on Monday. • The spike in recruitment is driven by the global AI boom, which has created a robust demand for specialized talent to develop high-performance chips. • This trend highlights the strategic shift of Korean tech firms to secure a new generation of engineers to maintain a competitive edge in the AI hardware market.

• Host Paul Engel of "The Constitution Study" examines how political influence is currently undermining the equal enforcement of law in the United States. • The program highlights federal investigations into alleged 2020 election irregularities and the impact of unconstitutional state and local policies. • A critical economic concern is raised regarding Congress, which is driving a projected national deficit of $1.9 trillion.

• Wall Street experienced a broad decline, with the Nasdaq Composite dropping 1.81%, the S&P 500 falling 1.14%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreasing by 0.24%. • The market downturn was primarily driven by a deepening selloff in semiconductor stocks and a significant slump in Netflix shares. • This volatility highlights growing investor concern over the valuation of high-growth technology companies and the stability of the chip sector.