Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Tensions Threaten Supply 
Gold Prices Hold Near $4,500 as Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease 
Jefferies Names 6 Top India Stock Picks Across Key Sectors 
Asian Stocks Rally as Fed Rate Hike Fears Ease 
JPMorgan Sees ECB Raising Rates to 2.75% in December 
Yen Rebounds as BOJ Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Uranium Prices Could Top $100 as Nuclear Demand Grows 
OPEC+ Expected to Hold October Oil Output Steady 
Iran’s Hormuz Oil Pressure Fades as Gulf Crude Flows Continue 
Iran Vows Tougher Response as U.S. Sanctions Squeeze Economy 
Japan Foreign Reserves Plunge $79.6 Billion After Record Yen Intervention 
Australia Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts in July as Exports Fall 
Singapore Straits Times Index Hits Record High as Banks, Property Stocks Rally 
China Expands Influence in Global Gold Market 
US Oil Blockade Deepens Iran’s Economic Crisis 
ECB Set for September Rate Hike as Energy Prices Fuel Inflation 
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Asian stocks advanced on Monday as semiconductor shares rallied on renewed artificial intelligence optimism, although rising oil prices and strong U.S. employment data kept concerns over higher interest rates in focus.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 1.1%, while its index excluding Japan rose about 0.9%. South Korea’s KOSPI led regional gains with a 3.4% surge, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.9%.
Chipmakers were among the strongest performers after OpenAI unveiled GPT-6 Astra, fueling expectations that AI infrastructure spending will remain robust. SK Hynix jumped 6.1% and Samsung Electronics gained more than 4%. Japan’s Kioxia surged 7.6%, Murata Manufacturing rose 4.3%, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing climbed 1.5%.
Foxconn was little changed despite reporting record August revenue of T$921.8 billion, up 52% from a year earlier. The company expects third-quarter operations to beat market expectations as AI demand and seasonal technology sales provide support.
The Asian stock market rally followed a mixed Wall Street session after U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 in August, exceeding forecasts. The stronger jobs report reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could maintain a hawkish policy stance. Investors are now awaiting Friday’s U.S. inflation report for further clues about the Fed’s September rate decision.
Oil prices added another source of uncertainty. Brent crude rose to around $96.45 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate traded near $91.85 after U.S. attacks on three Iranian oil tankers heightened concerns over supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Chinese markets were mixed, with the CSI 300 gaining 0.2% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped about 1.2%. Beijing announced a 360 billion yuan recapitalization package for state-owned banks and insurers, including 300 billion yuan in special Treasury bonds, aimed at strengthening lending and supporting economic growth.
India’s Nifty 50 edged higher, while Australian and several Southeast Asian markets posted mixed performances. Investors across Asia remain focused on AI-driven technology demand, oil-market tensions and upcoming U.S. inflation data as they assess the outlook for global interest rates.
