Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down 0.2%, Shanghai Composite down 0.45% Hang Seng down 1.68% ASX down 1.20%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,138.87 (-1.13%) Silver at $63.80 (-3.09%), Brent Oil at $79.52 (-0.30%), WTI Oil at $76.51 (-0.41%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.463, UK 10-year yield at 4.7610, Germany 10-year yield at 2.9310
News & Data:
- (GBP) Official Bank rate 3.75% to 3.75% expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday, with South Korea leading regional gains as technology stocks surged. The benchmark Kospi extended its record-setting rally, supported by strong advances in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both of which reached all-time highs. Investors also monitored developments surrounding a U.S.-brokered peace agreement with Iran.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that any economic relief for Tehran would depend on its full compliance with the agreement. He emphasized that the United States would not provide direct financial assistance unless Iran met all obligations outlined in the deal. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, described the agreement as conditional, saying he approved it only after receiving assurances that Iran’s rights and interests would be protected.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.6% after reaching a record high in the previous session, while the broader Topix index remained largely unchanged. South Korea’s Kospi gained 2.8%, building on momentum after surpassing the 9,000 level for the first time. However, the small-cap Kosdaq slipped 0.39%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.74%, while markets in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan remained closed for a holiday.
In the U.S., stocks ended the shortened trading week higher. The S&P 500 gained 1.08%, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.91%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 72 points as investors digested the Federal Reserve’s latest policy outlook.
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