S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Asian stock markets extended losses on Thursday, led by steep declines in Japan and China, after reports surfaced that the United States may tighten export restrictions on China. The renewed trade tension between the world’s two largest economies weighed heavily on investor sentiment across the region.
A Reuters report revealed that Washington is considering curbing software-powered exports to China, including laptops, jet engines, and advanced technology products. The potential move, reportedly still under discussion, is seen as leverage against Beijing’s recent rare earth export restrictions. The development comes ahead of a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the fragile state of U.S.-China relations.
The news triggered declines across major Asian indices. China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 dropped 0.6%, and the Shanghai Composite fell 0.7%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat, dragged by a 0.8% fall in the Hang Seng TECH Index.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.3%, extending its pullback after a record-breaking rally earlier this week. The broader TOPIX shed 0.5% as investors booked profits amid uncertainty over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s upcoming economic stimulus package. The new plan, expected to exceed last year’s 13.9 trillion yen program, aims to tackle inflation and support household spending.
In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 0.3% to a new record high of 3,895.09 after the Bank of Korea kept its key interest rate steady at 2.5% for the third consecutive meeting. The decision underscored the central bank’s focus on economic stability, with analysts forecasting a potential rate cut in November.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index traded flat, while India’s Nifty 50 futures edged slightly lower. Investors now await key U.S. inflation data ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting, where a rate cut is widely anticipated.
