AI Stocks Rally in Asia as Oil Surge and Hawkish Central Banks Shake Global Markets 
Wall Street Mixed as Apple Earnings Boost Nasdaq and Oil Prices Ease 
Iran-U.S. Conflict Escalation Threatens Global Oil Supply and Economic Stability 
Tokyo Inflation Slows Despite Energy Pressures and BOJ Policy Outlook 
EU Warns of Response as U.S. Considers 25% Tariffs on Car Imports 
Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Supply Disruption Fears 
Oil Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict and Strait of Hormuz Disruption 
WTI Crude Oil Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict Uncertainty 
Stock Market Update: Fed Holds Rates Steady as Tech Earnings and Geopolitical Tensions Shape Outlook 
Yen Weakens After Intervention Spike as Dollar Stabilizes Amid Global Tensions 
China Manufacturing PMI Beats Forecasts in April Amid Weak Domestic Demand 
China Factory Activity Extends Growth in April Despite Global Pressures 
Wall Street Surges to Record Highs Amid Strong Earnings and Economic Stability 
US Stock Futures Rise as S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit Record Highs Amid Earnings Optimism and Iran Tensions 
Gold Prices Hold Steady as Iran War and Interest Rate Outlook Weigh on Markets 
Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 2.5% on August 13, marking its first climb above 36,000 since August 2. Technology and financial sectors drove gains, with Rakuten Group up 8.7%. Meanwhile, U.S. markets were mixed as investors anticipated critical inflation data.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Surges 2.5%, Boosted by Technology and Financial Sectors, as Asia-Pacific Markets Show Mixed Results
On August 13, markets resumed trading after a holiday, resulting in a more than 2% increase in Japan's major indexes, per CNBC.
For the first time since August 2, the benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 2.50% and surpassed 36,000. The broader Topix index experienced a 1.9% increase.
The country's technology and financial sectors were the primary drivers of the momentum, as evidenced by the 8.7% and 7.6% increases in Rakuten Group and Trend Micro, respectively.
Reuters, citing government sources, reported that the nation's parliament intends to convene a special session next week to deliberate on the Bank of Japan's decision to increase interest rates last month.
Japan's producer price index increased 3% in July compared to the previous year, a higher pace than the 2.9% increase in June.
The small-cap Kosdaq experienced a 1.58% loss, while South Korea's Kospi experienced a 0.17% decline.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 index increased by 0.10%. In contrast to expectations of a 0.9% increase, wages in Australia increased at a slower rate of 0.8% in the quarter ending in June, the slowest pace since the same quarter a year prior. On an annual basis, wages increased by 4.1%.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong increased by 0.10%, while the CSI 300 in mainland China declined by 0.21%.
Singapore's Q2 GDP Rises 2.9%, Strengthening Key Sectors as U.S. Markets Brace for Inflation Data
Singapore reported a 2.9% increase in its economy from the previous year's second quarter in Southeast Asia, consistent with the advanced gross domestic product estimate released in July. The Ministry of Trade and Industry identified the wholesale trade, finance, and insurance sectors and the information and communication sectors as areas of strength. The city-state also stated that it anticipates a 2% to 3% increase in GDP in 2024, as opposed to its previous projection of 1% to 3%.
As investors anticipated critical inflation data, U.S. markets experienced a turbulent overnight.
The Nasdaq Composite, dominated by technology, closed at 16,780.61 after a 0.21% increase, with shares of Nvidia surging 4%. The S&P 500 remained unchanged at 5,344.39. Conversely, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a 140-point decline, or 0.36%, to conclude at 39,357.01.
On August 14, traders eagerly anticipate the July consumer price index, a critical indicator of the health of the U.S. economy. Investors will scrutinize the data for any indications that the Federal Reserve may commence reducing rates in September.
