Public Markets 8-Hour Briefing
×Geopolitics & Commodities
Oil prices have reached a six-month high as tensions between the US and Iran escalate, with traders watching for potential disruptions to crude production. Oil continued rising in Asian trading as market participants brace for U.S.-Iran talks. Gold gained ground as traders weighed tariff risks and Middle East tensions.
Asian Markets
Asian currencies strengthened to a 16-month high Wednesday, supported by a weaker dollar and steady yuan appreciation. South Korea has surpassed France in stock market value, with Korea's Kospi index gaining over 40% this year and breaking above 6000. Samsung and SK Hynix are driving the benchmark's breakthrough as surging global memory powers chipmakers. Asian stocks rose with Japan and South Korea at record highs.
US Markets & Policy
US stock futures remained flat as investors awaited President Trump's State of the Union address and Nvidia earnings. Trump called the Supreme Court's tariff ruling "very unfortunate" but vowed to impose tariffs through other means. The yen reversed gains versus the dollar after dovish Bank of Japan nominations. Wall Street saw a tech rally extend into Asia as AI disruption concerns eased.
Global Finance
Global funds made the biggest foreign buying of Taiwan stocks in 20 years, signaling confidence in chipmakers benefiting from AI growth. HSBC beat fiscal year profit estimates on wealth and transaction banking strength. HSBC now faces an earnings test with revenue prospects and a subsidiary buyout in focus. UBS sees compelling opportunities in Chinese tech stocks after recent losses, while predicting private credit defaults could reach 15% in a worst-case scenario.