Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 5.23%, Shanghai Composite up 1.92% Hang Seng up 2.77% ASX up 2.64%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,830.01 (2.06%) Silver at $76.465 (6.22%), Brent Oil at $94.79 (-13.24%), WTI Oil at $95.92 (-15.08%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.240, UK 10-year yield at 4.9070, Germany 10-year yield at 3.0830
News & Data:
- (USD) Core Durable Goods Orders m/m 0.8% to 0.5% expected
- (USD) Durable Goods Orders m/m -1.4 to -1.1 expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets rallied Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would suspend planned attacks on Iranian infrastructure for two weeks, easing fears of further escalation in the Middle East. The pause is conditional on Iran agreeing to the “complete, immediate, and safe” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran’s armed forces would cease defensive operations and coordinate to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week period.
Oil prices dropped sharply following the announcement, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude falling 14% to $96.86 per barrel in late trading, reflecting expectations of improved supply stability.
Regional equities surged. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 5.8%, while the Kosdaq rose 4.1%, led by strong gains in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 4.95% and the Topix climbed 3.1%. China’s CSI 300 gained 1.95%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 2.56%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 2.7%.
U.S. futures also strengthened, with Dow futures rising 718 points, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively, amid optimism over easing geopolitical tensions.
Upcoming Events:
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