South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Most Asian stocks edged lower on Thursday due to growing uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and weak economic indicators, though Hong Kong and South Korea bucked the trend with tech-driven gains.
Investor sentiment remained cautious as Wall Street closed mixed after soft U.S. labor data and concerns over escalating tariffs under President Donald Trump. Trump is expected to hold a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, which may revive stalled trade negotiations. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1% in Asian trading.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.4% and the TOPIX shed 0.8%, dragged down by weaker-than-expected April wage growth, raising doubts about Japan’s consumption recovery. Australia’s ASX 200 also slipped 0.1% following disappointing April trade data, reflecting a sharp decline in commodity exports. Singapore’s Straits Times index remained flat, while India’s Gift Nifty 50 futures also signaled a muted open ahead of a possible 25 basis point rate cut by the Reserve Bank.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1%, lifted by gains in major tech stocks such as Alibaba, Meituan, and BYD Electronic. SMIC jumped 2.5%, tracking overnight gains in U.S. tech as falling Treasury yields and AI optimism supported global chipmakers. Taiwan’s TSMC added 0.2%, while South Korea’s SK Hynix and Samsung surged 5.4% and 3.3%, respectively.
China’s mainland indexes lagged, with both the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite down 0.1%. Despite a better-than-expected Caixin services PMI, weak manufacturing data limited gains. Market watchers expect more stimulus from Beijing amid the ongoing U.S.-China trade rift.
South Korea’s KOSPI led regional markets, climbing 2% to an 11-month high on post-election optimism and a strong tech sector. The recent victory of President Lee Jae-myung ended months of political uncertainty, further boosting investor confidence.
