Stocks Hit

• European markets saw gains, with the FTSE 100 closing up 0.7% (68.26 points) at 10,529.89, coinciding with the Dow Jones hitting a new high. • In a separate legal development, the US Supreme Court ruled 7-2 to send a $1.25 million jury award against Germany-based Bayer back to a Missouri state court. • The court determined that the US Environmental Protection Agency's finding that Roundup is not a carcinogen pre-empts state-level labeling requirements.

• Global stock markets experienced a significant downturn as investors began selling off high-flying technology stocks. • South Korean shares were particularly hard hit, plunging by 10% amid the market volatility. • The sell-off was triggered by growing investor anxiety regarding "frothy" valuations and the sustainability of recent tech gains.

• Emerging market stocks reached a record high, driven by a rally in AI-linked technology shares and optimism surrounding a potential US-Iran peace deal. • The positive sentiment helped push crude oil prices below $80 per barrel, contrasting with recent tensions and threats from Donald Trump regarding Hezbollah's attacks on Israel. • In contrast, Chinese equities in Hong Kong declined toward a bear market following a holiday, hampered by weak consumption data and a shift in AI investment.

• South Korea’s Kospi index reached the 9,000 mark, marking a sixth consecutive session of growth driven primarily by AI-related stocks. • The rally was supported by global geopolitical stability following a US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates between 3.50% and 3.75%. • The surge highlights the influence of mega-cap companies in cap-weighted indices, as increased risk appetite leads investors to concentrate capital in the most liquid assets.

• US stock markets have reached record highs in 2026, driven primarily by continued optimism surrounding artificial intelligence technologies. • South Korea has surpassed India to become the world's sixth-largest stock market, fueled by the market capitalization of semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. • Taiwan continues to strengthen its global market position due to its dominant control over the international semiconductor supply chain.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached new record highs, driven by investor enthusiasm surrounding the artificial intelligence boom. • Oil prices surged by more than 3% due to concerns over the fragility of the conflict's end in Iran. • Regional performance was mixed, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng rising 0.8% and Taiwan's Taiex climbing 1.4%, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3% following reports of softened factory activity and slowing export demand in May.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached new record highs on Monday, driven primarily by investor enthusiasm for the artificial intelligence boom and advanced technology stocks. • Oil prices rose by more than 2% as the market reacted to the fragility of the Iran war ceasefire and ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. • Key diplomatic discussions are currently focused on the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global waterway for the transit of natural gas and oil.

• South Korea's Kospi index reached a record high on Monday, bolstered by a more than 3% surge in Samsung shares, which also hit an all-time high. • The rally occurred despite mixed trading across Asia-Pacific markets as investors reacted to ongoing uncertainty regarding U.S.-Iran negotiations. • President Trump signaled a cautious approach to ending the conflict, stating he was in "no hurry" to strike a deal after four months of tension.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached record highs following reports of potential deal hopes between the US and Iran. • Other regional markets showed mixed results, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng rising 0.9% to 25,222.38 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbing 1.6% to 8,731.70. • In contrast, the Shanghai Composite index declined by 0.9% to 4,063.56, while Taiwan's Taiex saw a significant increase of 2.5%.

• Asian stock markets rallied on Friday, with South Korea's KOSPI index reaching record highs. • The surge was driven by investor optimism following reports of a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension between the United States and Iran. • Gains were particularly strong in the technology sectors of Japan, South Korea, and China, while financial services led growth in Hong Kong and Singapore.

• ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos warned on Wednesday that the risk of a market correction is "elevated" as global stock indices continue to hit record highs. • De Guindos cited a volatile combination of outsized market valuations, fiscal challenges, and vulnerabilities within private credit as primary drivers of this instability. • Geopolitical turmoil, specifically mentioning the war in Iran, is highlighted as a significant external risk that could trigger a downturn.

• U.S. stocks rose to records on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 climbing 0.6% to 7,519.12 and the Nasdaq gaining 1.2% to 26,656.18, while the Dow slipped 118 points. • Micron Technology jumped 19.3% to above $895.88 and was the strongest force lifting the market, helping push the chip-heavy rally. • The move mattered because it extended a broad tech-led advance and came as traders digested President Donald Trump’s comments that Iran talks were “proceeding nicely.”

• Global equity markets including Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, Nikkei 225, and KOSPI reached fresh record highs driven by AI optimism overpowering US-Iran ceasefire tensions. • Rising oil prices, stronger inflation expectations, and hawkish Fed rhetoric pushed US Treasury yields higher while reinforcing higher-for-longer interest rates and USD strength. • President Trump is heading to China for a summit with Xi Jinping on Iran, nuclear issues, trade, and AI, joined by executives from Tesla, Apple, and BlackRock.

US president pauses ‘Project Freedom’ to work on ‘final agreement’ with Tehran; stocks also ride high on AI euphoriaGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.Asian stock markets hit record highs, following in Wall Street’s footsteps, and oil prices retreated after Donald Trump hailed “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Tehran.on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran”.Investors bought and continue to add to positioning in the 2026 winners. There has been some buying in S&P 500 materials stocks, but it’s tech that continues to attract the bulk of flows, notably in Apple and the memory plays.9am BST: Eurozone services and composite PMIs for April9.30am BST: UK services and composite PMIs for April1.15pm BST: US ADP employment change for April Continue reading...

• US stocks recently reached an all-time high even as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran dominate headlines, suggesting investor confidence in economic fundamentals. • The market surge occurs amid what analysts describe as a major market disruption cycle, with oil shocks and other disruptions rattling investors before receding. • The disconnect between headline risks and market performance highlights investor focus on sustained economic growth and underlying corporate fundamentals over short-term geopolitical concerns.

• Alcoa shares surged 11-12% and Century Aluminum 13.6% as aluminum prices reached near four-year highs due to Middle East infrastructure strikes. • Iranian missile strikes hit critical metal industry infrastructure, disrupting supply and driving the commodity rally amid the widening conflict. • The gains in metal stocks contribute to broader market recovery, underscoring sector sensitivity to geopolitical supply shocks.

Effective closure of strait of Hormuz also affecting Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, which have brought in crisis measuresSri Lanka is introducing a shorter four-day working week to preserve its shrinking fuel and gas reserves, as the Middle East conflict continues to severely disrupt energy supplies in the region.Countries across south Asia are facing crippling shortages of fuel and LPG gas, which are used for everything from home cooking to cremating bodies, as most supplies have been held up in the Gulf since the US and Israel began bombing Iran. Continue reading...