Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Malaysia Central Bank Moves to Support Ringgit Amid Foreign Fund Outflows 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Micron Earnings 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
South Korea Remains MSCI Emerging Market Despite Reform Progress 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
European stock markets closed lower on Friday as renewed military tensions between the United States and Iran rattled investor confidence and intensified concerns about global energy supplies. The escalating conflict weakened risk appetite across financial markets, dragging major European indices into negative territory.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index declined 0.7%, while Germany’s DAX dropped 1.4%. France’s CAC 40 fell 1.1%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.4% as traders reacted to growing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.
Market sentiment deteriorated after the U.S. Central Command reported that American naval destroyers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz faced missile, drone, and small-boat attacks from Iran on Thursday. In response, the United States launched retaliatory strikes targeting Iranian port facilities in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
Iran strongly condemned the attacks, accusing Washington of breaking the fragile ceasefire agreement. Tehran also claimed that U.S. forces targeted Iranian oil tankers near Jask port and nearby coastal regions critical to shipping operations.
The latest conflict disrupted optimism that had recently boosted global equities. Earlier reports suggested Washington and Tehran were nearing a diplomatic framework for renewed peace negotiations expected to begin in Pakistan. Investors had hoped the talks would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route that has remained effectively closed since the conflict intensified in February.
Rising energy prices also pressured corporate stocks. IAG, owner of British Airways, warned that higher jet fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict would reduce annual profits. Intertek shares fell after rejecting a takeover proposal from Swedish investment firm EQT, while Rightmove gained support after maintaining its 2026 outlook driven by AI-powered growth.
Political uncertainty in the UK added further pressure after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party suffered major local election losses to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
