US stocks were higher on Friday after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said that the FOMC could cut interest rates next week, while investors continued to assess geopolitical risks. The three main stock indices were firmly in the green, enough to erase losses from earlier in the week. Waller noted that he doesn't expect tariffs to have a significant inflationary effect and favored the evidence of disinflation for the argument against higher rates, supporting equities on all sectors. IN the meantime, President Trump stated that the decision to strike Iran would take up to two...
Asia-Pacific markets plunged on Monday after a US strike on three nuclear sites in Iran lifted oil prices and investors worried about an escalation in the Middle East conflict. Oil prices have surged in recent weeks amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude was trading at $78.66 a barrel, after jumping 2.14%, as of 9:43 a.m. Singapore time, while West Texas Intermediate crude was up 2.23% at $75.47. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.56%, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.49%. In South Korea, the Kospi index fell 1.05%, while the small-cap Kosdaq index dropped...
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% to below 38,200, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.8% to 2,750 on Monday, marking a third straight session of losses for Japanese equities. The selloff followed US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, a major escalation in the Middle East as the US joins Israel in its conflict with Iran. Markets are now on edge, awaiting Tehran's response amid concerns about wider regional instability and higher oil prices. On the domestic front, data showed that Japanese manufacturing activity returned to growth in June for the first time since May...