Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Asian stock markets were volatile in early Friday trading as investors reacted to fresh signals from U.S. President Donald Trump on government funding and monetary policy, alongside mixed corporate earnings from major U.S. technology companies. The uncertainty weighed on risk sentiment even as global equities headed toward a strong monthly performance.
MSCI’s broad Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan moved between gains and losses before slipping 0.2%, extending the previous session’s decline while still on track for its best month in over three years. U.S. equity futures pointed lower, with S&P 500 e-mini futures down 0.4% and Nasdaq e-mini futures falling 0.5%, reflecting ongoing concerns about technology valuations and artificial intelligence investments.
Market focus sharpened after Trump endorsed a bipartisan deal aimed at avoiding another U.S. government shutdown and confirmed he has decided on a nominee to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. These developments pushed the U.S. dollar higher, with the dollar index rising 0.3%, while the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.263% as traders assessed the implications for interest rates. Fed funds futures currently imply an 86.6% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep rates unchanged at its March meeting.
On Wall Street, stocks fell on Thursday after disappointing results from Microsoft reignited doubts about the profitability of heavy AI spending. Microsoft shares plunged 10%, erasing more than $350 billion in market value, while Meta surged 10% as its AI-driven advertising outlook impressed investors. Apple also boosted sentiment by forecasting up to 16% revenue growth for the March quarter, helped by strong iPhone demand and a rebound in China.
In commodities, precious metals retreated after a volatile session, with gold down 0.7% and silver slightly lower as traders unwound extended positions. Oil prices eased, with WTI crude slipping below $65 amid geopolitical concerns following new U.S. measures targeting countries trading oil with Cuba. Cryptocurrencies also weakened, with Bitcoin and ether both posting losses as broader risk appetite softened.
