Offsets

• Asian foreign exchange markets are trading cautiously as a softening U.S. dollar balances ongoing geopolitical risks. • The Bank of Korea implemented a widely expected 25 basis-point interest-rate hike to 2.75%, though the USD/KRW pair still fell approximately 0.4% to around 1,479 won. • Despite the rate hike, the South Korean won faces limited support due to persistent foreign selling in technology shares and regional instability.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a slight gain amid volatile trading, as cooler inflation data helped offset losses from other sectors. • Market sentiment was weighed down by a slump in IBM and mixed bank earnings, while HCA Healthcare and Virtu Financial saw significant drops of over 9% and 6%, respectively. • The session highlighted a sharp divergence between individual stocks, reflecting investor uncertainty tied to rising Middle East tensions and economic indicators.

• Asian stocks opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, June 2, as geopolitical anxiety in the Middle East offset positive sentiment surrounding artificial intelligence. • Market volatility was evident in the MSCI Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan), which fluctuated between gains and losses and initially dipped 0.5%. • South Korean shares faced significant pressure, recording a 2% decline after an initially higher opening.

• Asian stocks opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, June 2, as markets balanced conflicting global sentiments. • Renewed optimism surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) provided a boost to shares, but this was offset by ongoing anxiety regarding the Middle East conflict and ceasefire uncertainty. • The MSCI broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares, excluding Japan, fluctuated between gains and losses as investors remained hesitant.

• U.S. stocks traded near record levels on Monday as the S&P 500 hovered close to its all-time high while the Dow and Nasdaq were roughly flat to slightly lower in early trade. • Nvidia-led gains in megacap technology helped offset worries about rising oil prices after renewed tensions around the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire. • The market reaction matters because energy shocks can complicate the inflation outlook and reshape expectations for Federal Reserve policy.

• Asian stock markets experienced volatility as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran offset optimism surrounding the artificial intelligence sector. • Tech gains were driven by news that AI developer Anthropic has confidentially filed for a US IPO, potentially reaching a trillion-dollar valuation. • Alphabet shares declined 0.7% following the announcement of a plan to raise $80 billion in equity, including investment from Berkshire Hathaway, to expand AI infrastructure.

• Asian stock markets opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, as the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index fluctuated between gains and losses. • Market sentiment was split between renewed optimism regarding artificial intelligence and ongoing anxiety over the conflict in the Middle East. • South Korean shares experienced a 2% decline after an initially higher open, while Brent crude oil prices remained steady around $95.