Slides

• Asian markets showed mixed results as the KOSPI slid following a strong quarter, while Japanese and Chinese markets rose driven by positive Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data. • Manufacturing activity remained resilient across Southeast Asia, with Thailand's PMI hitting 53.6 and Malaysia's improving to 50.7, though Indonesia's PMI continued to contract. • In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.6% after building approvals unexpectedly dropped by 1.1% in May, dampening investor sentiment.

• Asian markets showed mixed results as the KOSPI slid following a strong quarter, while Japanese and Chinese markets rose driven by positive Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data. • Manufacturing activity remained resilient in Southeast Asia, with Thailand's PMI rising to 53.6 and Malaysia's to 50.7, though Indonesia's PMI continued to contract. • In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.6% after building approvals unexpectedly dropped 1.1% in May, weighing on investor sentiment.

• OpenAI has appointed former Uber India chief Prabhjeet Singh as Managing Director for India, which serves as the company's second-largest market. • The move comes as India sees significant adoption of OpenAI's technology, with over 100 million weekly ChatGPT users. • In a separate strategic shift, OpenAI has restricted the rollout of its GPT-5.6 models to selected partners following requests from the US government.

• On June 25, 2026, the Sensex climbed over 400 points and the Nifty crossed 24,100, driven by a lower India VIX and easing geopolitical tensions involving Iran. • Crude oil prices are sliding toward pre-war levels, boosting sentiment for energy-importing economies and contributing to the Indian market's upward trend. • Global markets showed mixed results, with Japan's Nikkei 225 surging 3.87% to 71,854.88, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.72% and Indonesia's JSX Composite dropped 3.56%.

• US stock markets traded mixed on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising as gains in AI-linked chipmakers balanced out losses in other sectors. • Micron Technology saw a significant jump driven by a positive artificial intelligence outlook, while Apple shares slid following the announcement of price hikes across several of its products. • This divergence highlights a market trend where investor enthusiasm for AI growth is offsetting concerns over consumer pricing strategies and demand for hardware.

• Global technology stocks faced a severe sell-off on Tuesday, led by South Korea's Kospi index, which crashed 10% to close at 8,203 from a previous 9,114. • Major semiconductor firms Samsung and SK Hynix slumped, contributing to the downturn alongside declines in Japan's Nikkei 225 and the Nasdaq. • The rout is driven by widespread profit booking, signaling a deepening correction in the global tech sector.

• US stocks rebounded on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both rising over 1% to recover losses from the previous session. • The market surge was driven by falling oil prices and easing Treasury yields, which significantly boosted investor sentiment. • This recovery follows a US-Iran agreement to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reducing geopolitical tensions.

Critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan population falls after extreme weather – fuelled by climate crisis – in North SumatraExtreme rainfall and landslides fuelled by the climate crisis killed 7% of the remaining population of the world’s rarest great ape, a study has found, prompting fears for the species’ survival.The research suggests 58 out of the remaining 800 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) were killed after more than 1,000mm (39in) of rain fell over four days in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province in November 2025. This equates to 11% of the local population and 7% of the entire species. Continue reading...

• Zee Entertainment reported a decline in ad revenues for Q4 FY26, citing the ongoing conflict in West Asia and rising operational costs as primary drivers. • Despite the revenue hit, the company noted that losses for its streaming platform, ZEE5, are narrowing. • The stock price slid nearly 6% following the results and a downgrade of the stock by Elara Securities.

Twelve dead as southern and central areas also suffer travel disruption, electricity outages and evacuationsHeavy, prolonged rainfall in southern and central China has resulted in weather warnings for flash flooding, landslides and waterlogging. The band of rainfall spanned 1,000km (620 miles) and steadily moved eastwards across the regions on Tuesday. It was a slow-moving band of rain, formed from the convergence of multiple bands originating from the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.Coupled with low wind speeds, high daily and hourly rainfall totals have been recorded, with as much as 75mm locally in Hunan, 85mm in Anhui in a 24-hour period and 95mm on the island of Hainan. As a result of flooding, 12 people have died and hundreds of residents have been evacuated by emergency services. There were major travel disruptions, electricity outages, as well as school and business closures. Along the flooded streets, social media posts showed submerged cars and people fishing. Continue reading...

• Zee Entertainment reported a decline in ad revenues for Q4 FY26, citing the geopolitical conflict in West Asia and rising operational costs as primary drivers. • While the company noted that losses for its streaming platform, ZEE5, are narrowing, the overall financial outlook led to a nearly 6% drop in its stock price. • The stock's decline was further exacerbated by Elara Securities downgrading the company, reflecting investor concern over revenue stability.

BYD's first-quarter net profit dropped 55.4 per cent from a year earlier to 4.1 billion yuan.

• The S&P 500 declined 0.84% to 6,551.67 in afternoon trading on Friday with 139 equities advancing and 364 declining across the index, indicating broad-based weakness. • Market rotation continued with only the utilities sector trading in positive territory while all other sectors posted losses amid elevated geopolitical tensions and rising borrowing costs. • Market volatility remains high as investors grapple with competing concerns about inflation stemming from the Iran conflict and the potential impact on Federal Reserve policy decisions.

• Wall Street experienced a sharp selloff on Wednesday, March 19, 2026, driven by intensifying geopolitical conflicts between the U.S.-Israel force and Iran, sending major indices to their lowest closes of the year. • The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.6% or 768.11 points to 46,225.15, with 28 of 30 components declining; the S&P 500 dropped 1.4% to 6,624.70; and the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.5% or 327.11 points to 22,152.42. • The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) surged 12.2% to 25.09, reflecting elevated market fear and uncertainty about Middle East implications for the U.S. economy.

Rain fell between 1 and 2in hourly in Maui, Molokai and the Big Island while tens of thousands are without powerRain continued falling in Hawaii on Sunday where a strong storm brought flash flooding, blizzard conditions and landslides to the islands as residents reported collapsed roads and one home washing away in rising waters.Flash flooding has been a major problem in recent days in places such as Maui, Molokai and the Big Island, where rain had been falling between 1 and 2in (2.5 and 5cm) an hour overnight, according to the Hawaii emergency management agency. Continue reading...

The Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.78% to 22,111 on March 13, 2026, as surging oil prices and fears of Iran war fueled broad risk-off selling across US markets. The Dow fell 1.56% to 46,777, with the S&P 500 down 3% for March, turning yearly performance negative amid worries over global oil supply disruptions. Markets hoped for a Persian Gulf ceasefire that failed to materialize, shifting sentiment to defensive. This Friday's action highlights unique dangers from combined geopolitical and energy shocks.