Weekly Loss

• Indian equity markets ended largely flat on Friday, August 21, 2026, with the Nifty 50 edging up 0.08% to 24,252 and the BSE Sensex closing unchanged at 77,540.83. • Despite the flat daily finish, both benchmarks suffered weekly losses, with the Nifty 50 dropping 0.5% and the Sensex falling 0.6%. • The downward trend was driven by macroeconomic pressures, specifically elevated crude oil prices and rising global bond yields.

• Asian stock markets experienced a rebound, led by gains in South Korea's KOSPI, though overall weekly losses persist. • The market remains volatile due to ongoing risks associated with bond yields and fluctuating oil prices. • Investors are now shifting their focus toward Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report to gauge the strength of the technology trade.

• European stocks are currently on track to record their first weekly loss in five weeks. • Market movement was driven by divergent earnings reports, including a 15% drop for renewable energy developer Energiekontor AG following a slashed annual outlook. • In contrast, cable manufacturer NKT A/S saw its shares jump 10% after the company upgraded its full-year earnings guidance.

• European stock markets recorded their first weekly loss in five weeks, breaking a positive streak. • The downturn was primarily driven by a surge in crude oil prices and recent economic data. • This shift reflects growing investor volatility and sensitivity to energy costs and macroeconomic indicators.

• The U.S. dollar is projected to end the week with a loss following the release of soft payroll data. • Despite the decline, the dollar remains supported by hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve, including warnings from Kevin Warsh regarding the bank's commitment to a 2% inflation target. • The Japanese yen continues to be closely monitored by traders as markets anticipate potential government intervention to stabilize the currency.

• 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.

• The S&P 500 fell 2% for its fifth consecutive weekly decline, the first such streak since 2022, amid Mideast conflict de-escalation hopes. • Brent crude rose to $112 per barrel, with U.S. 10-year yields climbing to 4.43% on inflation fears from sustained high energy prices. • BlackRock warns elevated oil could shift focus from rate cuts to whether central bank policies can match rising inflation.

• The S&P 500 fell 1.51% to close at 6,506.48, the Nasdaq dropped 2.01% to 21,647.61, and the Dow declined 0.96% to 45,577.47 on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive weekly loss. • Iran conflict pushed oil prices higher, intensifying inflation expectations and prompting investors to reassess Federal Reserve rate-cut bets; rate futures now suggest potential rate increases rather than cuts by 2026. • Major tech stocks suffered significant losses, with Nvidia and Tesla falling over 3%, while Super Micro Computer plunged 33% following smuggling charge reports linked to AI technology exports.

• The S&P 500 declined 1.6% last week, marking its third consecutive weekly drop, with the Dow falling 2% and Nasdaq shedding 1.3% due to soaring oil prices and broad market selling. • Surging oil prices from geopolitical tensions, including US-Iran escalation, drove the downturn, as investors brace for NVIDIA GTC AI event and FOMC rate decision this week (March 16-20, 2026). • Markets now price only a 33% chance of a June rate cut, down from 57% last month, amid persistent inflation data; Thursday's jobless claims will gauge labor market health.

• The S&P 500 declined 1.6% for its third consecutive weekly loss, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2% and the NASDAQ shed 1.3% as geopolitical tensions and surging oil prices created broad selling pressure across all major indices. • Investors face a critical week ahead with the NVIDIA GTC conference (the "AI Oscars") scheduled alongside the Federal Reserve's FOMC interest rate decision on Wednesday and jobless claims data on Thursday. • Persistent inflation has dramatically shifted market expectations, with traders pricing in just a 33% probability of a June rate cut compared to 57% one month ago, reflecting heightened uncertainty about the Fed's monetary policy path.