Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
German Auto Suppliers Turn Bearish as Investment and Jobs Shift Overseas 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Asian stock markets opened the week on a positive note, led by a strong surge in South Korean equities and renewed momentum in Hong Kong’s technology sector. Investor sentiment across the region improved as markets reacted to last week’s gains on Wall Street, although trading activity remained relatively muted due to public holidays in Japan and mainland China.
South Korea’s KOSPI index emerged as the top performer, jumping around 3.5% to reach an all-time high. The rally was largely driven by robust gains in major semiconductor companies, particularly Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. SK Hynix recorded an impressive surge of nearly 7%, while Samsung rose close to 3%. Both companies recently reported strong first-quarter earnings, fueled by continued demand and supply constraints in the global memory chip market. As key suppliers to artificial intelligence leaders like Nvidia, these chipmakers are well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing AI boom, which continues to support pricing power and revenue growth.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also advanced by approximately 1.7%, supported by a rebound in technology stocks. Major players such as Baidu, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), and Xiaomi posted gains exceeding 4%. Baidu recovered from prior losses, while SMIC continued to benefit from optimism surrounding China’s AI-driven growth potential. Xiaomi’s stock gained momentum after the company reported selling more than 30,000 electric vehicles in April, signaling a strong recovery in its EV segment.
Other regional markets followed the positive trend. Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged higher, and India’s Nifty 50 futures showed modest gains. However, Australia’s ASX 200 underperformed, slipping slightly amid expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia may implement another interest rate hike to combat persistent inflation. Rising energy prices linked to geopolitical tensions, including the Iran conflict, have further reinforced a cautious outlook among investors.
Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures remained relatively stable in Asian trading, as global markets await key economic indicators, including U.S. nonfarm payrolls data and corporate earnings reports. Investors also continue to monitor geopolitical risks, particularly developments involving the U.S. and Iran, which could impact market stability and energy prices in the near term.
