Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
Global stocks rose on Friday, heading for a weekly gain as Wall Street optimism lifted sentiment after key central bank moves. The Federal Reserve cut U.S. interest rates by 0.25%, its first reduction since December. Norway and Canada also lowered rates, fueling investor hopes of looser monetary policy worldwide.
In the U.S., all three major indexes set record highs for a second straight session. The Dow Jones gained 0.37% to 46,315.27, the S&P 500 advanced 0.49% to 6,664.36, and the Nasdaq rose 0.72% to 22,631.48. However, European markets dipped 0.16%, while Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.57% after the Bank of Japan announced plans to sell risky assets. Still, MSCI’s global index hit a record 982.29, up nearly 1% for the week.
Analysts said the Fed’s cautious stance left investors balancing optimism with disappointment. While rate cuts support stocks, the Fed emphasized a data-dependent approach, tempering expectations for an aggressive easing cycle. Treasury yields rose slightly, with the 10-year at 4.129% and the 2-year at 3.574%.
Geopolitical developments also shaped sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping held their first call in months, making progress on a TikTok deal and scheduling a meeting in South Korea. Meanwhile, a U.S. Senate vote failed to advance a spending bill, raising the risk of a government shutdown on October 1.
The dollar strengthened for a third straight day, rising 0.33% to 97.67, with gains against the Swiss franc but losses versus the yen. The euro slipped to $1.1745, and the pound dropped to $1.3467 after the Bank of England slowed bond sales.
Commodities were mixed: Brent crude fell 1.1% to $66.68, WTI slid 1.4% to $62.68, while gold gained 1.04% to $3,681.79, marking its fifth straight weekly rise.
