Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
Asian equities are on track for a second consecutive week of strong gains as easing tensions in the Middle East push oil prices further below the $100-per-barrel threshold. Investors are growing increasingly optimistic about a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict, despite the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supply — remaining closed.
Diplomatic progress has been moving quickly. A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took hold on Thursday, while President Donald Trump indicated that a fresh round of U.S.-Iran negotiations could take place as early as this weekend. The news sent Brent crude futures down over 1% to $98.14 a barrel, with West Texas Intermediate dropping 1.6% to $93.15.
Equity markets have responded positively. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan edged down 0.6% on the day but is still up 14.5% for April alone, recovering most of the 13.5% it shed in March when the Iran conflict erupted. Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.9% after touching a record high the previous session. On Wall Street, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs for the second straight day, buoyed by solid corporate earnings.
However, some market veterans are urging caution. Andrew Chorlton, CIO for public fixed income at M&G, noted a striking gap between what central bankers are signaling and what financial markets appear to be pricing in, describing the current investor mood as "somewhat complacent." ATFX Global's Nick Twidale echoed this view, warning that a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is necessary before any sustained market rally can be trusted.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index hovered near its lowest level since early March, with the euro climbing toward a seven-week high and the risk-sensitive Australian dollar approaching a four-year peak. The IMF has already downgraded its global growth outlook, cautioning that a prolonged conflict could push the world economy toward recession.
