Truce

• Stock futures indicated a higher opening on Monday as technology stocks sought to rebound following a week of losses for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. • Oil prices saw a modest increase due to geopolitical instability following a weekend of military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. • Comcast shares surged after the company announced a strategic plan to split its business operations.

• Australian shares closed 0.7% higher on the S&P/ASX 200, driven primarily by gains in the technology and financial sectors. • The market rally followed a temporary easing of geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, which provided immediate relief to global investors. • Indian markets mirrored this positive trend with a strong opening, signaling a broader global shift toward risk-on sentiment.

• U.S. stock futures are rising following a mixed week on Wall Street marked by a rotation of investments away from technology stocks. • Diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran have been temporarily paused, according to a Pakistani source. • Representatives from the U.S., Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar remain stationed in Switzerland to restart discussions upon instruction.

• Indian benchmark indices extended their winning streak to a fifth consecutive session on Thursday, driven by strong buying from domestic institutional investors. • This domestic surge helped stabilize the markets by absorbing significant selling pressure from foreign investors. • The rally occurs amidst a broader financial landscape featuring a US-Iran truce and anticipation surrounding the upcoming Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Annual General Meeting.

• Asian currency markets and the U.S. dollar remained largely muted as investors await the upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision. • While the Chinese yuan (USD/CNY) and Singapore dollar (USD/SGD) showed little movement, the South Korean won (USD/KRW) rose by 0.4%. • Market participants are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, specifically looking for further details regarding a potential truce in Iran.

While officials welcome ceasefire, many people are uncertain it will last – and return to find homes destroyedHours after the US-Iran ceasefire was announced, residents of south Lebanon began to race back to their villages. One man filmed as he drove into the entrance of Harees, his arrival interrupted as the car in front of him suddenly veered off the road. An Israeli armoured vehicle was parked in the middle of the road less than 100 metres ahead; he scrambled to turn around.“It was packed with explosives. I guess they still want to blow things up,” said Abdullah al-Ali, a municipal official in Harees. Ali added that the entrance to the town was blocked off after two other explosive-laden vehicles left by the Israelis were discovered in the area. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets rose on Friday following news of a temporary 60-day ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. • The truce, which includes discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program, led to a decrease in energy prices and reduced economic anxiety for oil-importing nations. • Broad index gains were observed across major markets, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, China, and Hong Kong, with technology and manufacturing shares seeing a particular boost.