Sets

• 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.

• The KOSPI index reached a new all-time closing high on May 29, surpassing its previous record. • This surge was primarily driven by strong institutional buying, signaling positive investor sentiment in the South Korean market. • The milestone reflects a significant recovery or growth phase for the index, marking a historic peak in valuation.

• PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have all advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 Singapore Badminton Open. • Sindhu is set to face world-class opponent An Se-young, while Rankireddy and Shetty secured their spot after a hard-fought 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 victory over Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan. • These wins are significant as the athletes compete in a high-stakes BWF Super 750 tournament, with Rankireddy and Shetty maintaining their status as world No. 4.

Donald Trump moves quickly to unite Republicans behind the Texas attorney general as Democrats eye rare openingUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailRepublican leaders rushed to throw their weight behind Ken Paxton following his big primary victory in Texas over the four-term US senator, John Cornyn, amid anxiety within the party over his prospects in November’s general election.Hours after the race was called, Donald Trump – who backed Paxton, despite intense concern among establishment Republicans – took to Truth Social to attack his Democratic rival in the midterm elections. Continue reading...

• Major U.S. stock indexes rose in early trading on Tuesday, marking the start of a holiday-shortened week following the Memorial Day break. • The S&P 500 reached a new all-time record high, driven largely by a significant surge in semiconductor and chip-related stocks. • This growth reflects continued investor confidence in the technology sector and overall market momentum despite the shortened trading schedule.