ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
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 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Asian stock markets advanced on Friday, mirroring record highs on Wall Street, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged to a fresh peak ahead of the Bank of Japan’s expected rate hold.
Overnight, U.S. stocks closed at record levels, led by Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), which jumped over 20% after Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) unveiled a $5 billion investment and announced plans to collaborate on next-generation processors. Futures tied to major U.S. indexes traded largely flat as of 03:04 GMT.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1% to a record 45,852.75, marking its fourth straight weekly gain. The broader TOPIX index rose 0.8% to 3,187.98, also setting a new high. The BOJ is widely expected to keep rates steady at 0.5%, reflecting a cautious stance amid political and global economic uncertainty. Data showed Japan’s core consumer inflation eased to 2.7% in August from 3.1% in July, though it remained above the BOJ’s 2% target for the 30th consecutive month.
In China, chip stocks extended their rally after reports that regulators ordered tech firms to halt purchases of Nvidia’s AI chips. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (HK:0981) and Hua Hong Semiconductor (HK:1347) were among top gainers. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 0.3%, while the Shanghai Composite edged lower. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.2%.
Markets also drew support from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s first rate cut since December, trimming rates by 25 basis points to 4.00%–4.25%. The Fed signaled two more cuts this year and another in 2026, with Chair Jerome Powell emphasizing data-driven decisions.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.7%, South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.5% after hitting record highs, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index remained steady. Futures for India’s Nifty 50 traded unchanged.
