The escalating military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran is sending shockwaves through global financial markets. 

Energy prices, safe-haven assets, and regional equities are all reacting in real time as investors assess the risk of prolonged supply disruptions — particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for roughly 20% of the world's seaborne oil supply.

Below, we track key market movements and their implications for investors in Saudi and U.S. equities.

This article is continuously updated. Scroll down for the latest developments — newest entries appear at the top.

🕐 Just in

U.S. Stocks Rally to Record Highs Led by Tech and Robotics

Driven by easing Middle East tensions and geopolitical optimism, the Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) closed at a record high on Monday, while the NASDAQ(IXIC.US) Composite surged 2.13%. Investors rotated out of semiconductor stocks into mega-cap tech and software equities, with the robotics sector outperforming as Serve Robotics Inc(SERV.US) jumped 13% and Ouster, Inc.(OUST.US) gained 6%.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. and Japan Launch Joint Currency Intervention to Support Yen

In a rare move, the U.S. Treasury sold euros to buy yen in a coordinated intervention with Japan, triggering a sharp rebound in the yen from 40-year lows to log its largest weekly gain in two years at nearly 4%. USD/JPY tumbled from near 163 to below 156, while EUR/JPY fell by over 4%.

🕐 Earlier Today

Oil Drops ~7% on De-escalation Signals Before Bouncing Slightly

Brent crude plunged around 7% on Monday to a three-week low after Trump paused new military action against Iran and indicated ongoing negotiations, though Iranian officials later denied active talks, lifting oil back near $80.87 per barrel on Tuesday. The Strait of Hormuz remains the market's central focal point as supply risks persist.

🕐 Earlier Today

Big Oil Posts Record Profits Amid Criticism Over High Gas Prices

Chevron Corporation(CVX.US) and Exxonmobil Holdings Corporation(XOM.US) reported strong quarterly earnings—with Chevron Corporation(CVX.US) hitting a six-year high—and Saudi Arabian Oil Co.(2222.SA) saw net profit jump over 40% year-over-year. However, Trump publicly criticized oil majors for excess profits, demanding consumer relief as U.S. national average gasoline prices remain elevated above $4 per gallon.

🕐 Earlier Today

Semiconductors Diverge Ahead of Key AMD Earnings and SanDisk Dip

PHLX Semiconductor(SOX.US) suffered its worst monthly performance since 2008 in July amid growing valuation debate over artificial intelligence. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US) reports earnings after the bell on August 4 with consensus expecting 57% revenue growth in Data Center, while Sandisk Corporation(SNDK.US) has fallen ~41% over the past 30 days, leading analysts to highlight potential dip-buying opportunities.

🕐 Earlier Today

SpaceX Faces First Earnings Debut and Impending Lock-up Expiration

SpaceX(SPCX.US) releases its inaugural earnings report as a public company this Tuesday, with prediction markets pricing a 70% chance of a miss. An upcoming lock-up expiration on Thursday will unlock ~911 million insider shares, potentially tripling the public float for a stock that has already declined 44% in the seven weeks since its IPO.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin and EUR/USD Consolidate Amid Broader Market Caution

Bitcoin traded essentially flat near $63,644, up 0.28%, signaling cautious sentiment across digital assets. EUR/USD held steady around 1.15, reflecting moderate pressure on the euro following the joint U.S.-Japan currency intervention without triggering extreme market volatility.

Iran-Israel Conflict: Assets to Watch

🛢 Oil & Energy — Benefits from conflict escalation

Saudi Market (Tadawul All Shares Index(TASI.SA)) — Monitor closely

Safe Haven & Gold — Rises when fear spikes

🛡 Defense & Aerospace — Benefits from prolonged conflict

📉 Bearish / Inverse Plays — Use when conflict de-escalates

₿ Bitcoin — Unconventional Safe Haven (Handle with Care)

⚠️ Bitcoin's correlation to geopolitical conflict is inconsistent — it sometimes acts as a safe haven, sometimes as a risk asset. Watch with extra caution and smaller position sizes if in trade.

The above is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Leveraged and inverse ETFs are designed for short-term trading only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Aug 3

Trump announced the cancellation of the planned military strike on Iran, saying that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday. The “imminent” Strait of Hormuz agreement significantly reduced geopolitical risk premiums across markets. WTI crude fell toward $80 per barrel, while Brent crude dropped below $84. OPEC+’s simultaneous decision to slightly increase production by 188,000 barrels per day further pressured oil prices.

🕐 Earlier Today
Japan confirmed that it conducted its first joint yen-buying intervention with the U.S. since 2011, sending the yen sharply higher by more than 1% against the dollar to the 155–156 range. The move came after the yen had fallen to a near 40-year low around 164. U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said Washington would not hesitate to take further coordinated intervention measures if excessive yen volatility continues.

🕐 Earlier Today
According to Galaxy Research, a vulnerability in the Coldcard hardware wallet led to the theft of approximately 1,367 Bitcoin worth nearly $89 million across more than 1,200 addresses. Meanwhile, Trump Media transferred 2,628 Bitcoin worth around $165 million to Crypto.com. The company clarified that the move was not a sale, but the market continued to price in potential supply pressure, with Bitcoin briefly falling below $63,000 before stabilizing.

🕐 Earlier Today
S&P 500 index(SPX.US) futures rose 0.4%, NASDAQ-100(NDX.US) futures gained 0.65%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) futures increased 0.39%. The moves came after the Nasdaq 100 recorded its worst monthly performance since March 2025, falling more than 7% in July. Investors are now focused on major upcoming earnings reports from companies including Palantir(PLTR.US), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US), SpaceX(SPCX.US), Uber Technologies,Inc.(UBER.US), and Sandisk Corporation(SNDK.US).

🕐 Earlier Today
Reports said AstraZeneca PLC(AZN.US) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company(BMY.US) have held preliminary talks over a potential merger deal valued at up to $400 billion. If completed, the transaction would become the largest pharmaceutical industry merger in history and could reshape the global drug market landscape.

🕐 Earlier Today
EUR/USD edged slightly lower toward 1.15, with thin liquidity during Monday’s Asian trading session contributing to increased volatility. The yen intervention has prompted the broader FX market to reassess the dollar outlook, while investors continue to monitor the possibility of additional coordinated intervention actions.

July 31

Crude Pulls Back After Wednesday Rally Driven by Middle East Escalation

WTI crude surged 6.56% and Brent jumped 7.91% on Wednesday after U.S.-Iran conflicts escalated and Saudi Arabia joined air strikes against Iran-backed forces in Iraq for the first time. Prices gave back partial gains early Thursday, with WTI settling back into the $83–$84 per barrel range as tankers continued navigating alternative rerouting paths around the Middle East to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

🕐 Earlier Today

Fed Holds Rates Division Deepens Over Inflation Risks

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75% for a fifth consecutive meeting, though a 3-to-12 dissenting vote in favor of an immediate rate hike highlighted growing internal division. Fed Chair successor Kevin Warsh emphasized that upside inflation risks remain the central bank's primary policy concern.

🕐 Earlier Today

Global Chip Stocks Sell-Off Pushes Nasdaq 100 into Correction Territory

A global semiconductor decline—dragged down by weaker-than-expected SK hynix Inc. Sponsored ADR(SKHY.US) performance—pushed the NASDAQ-100(NDX.US) down over 11% from its peak into technical correction territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) dropped over 1,100 points on Wednesday, with momentum tech stocks pacing toward their worst monthly performance since the Global Financial Crisis.

🕐 Earlier Today

Tech Earnings Diverge: Microsoft Outperforms as Meta Lags

Microsoft Corporation(MSFT.US) posted Q4 revenue of $90 billion (up 18% YoY) with Azure growing 27% and capital expenditures coming in lower than expected, sending shares up 3% in after-hours trading. Conversely, while Meta Platforms(META.US)'s Q2 revenue jumped 28% to $60.8 billion, flat guidance weighed on its stock and dragged on Asia-Pacific equity futures.

🕐 Earlier Today

European Energy Majors Post Strong Profits on Higher Realized Prices

Shell Plc Sponsored ADR(SHEL.US) reported Q2 adjusted earnings of $9.84 billion, well above analyst estimates of $89.2 billion. Italian energy giant Eni saw net profit double year-over-year to $2.65 billion while raising its 2026 share buyback target to $3.9 billion, with both results boosted by surging oil and gas prices caused by Middle East volatility.

🕐 Earlier Today

Quantum Computing Stocks Tumble Amid High-Valuation Tech Rotation

Pure-play quantum stocks including IonQ, Inc.(IONQ.US), Rigetti Computing, Inc.(RGTI.US), D-Wave Quantum(QBTS.US), and Quantum Computing Inc.(QUBT.US) have fallen 24%–39% over the past month as investors rotate out of high-valuation, unprofitable tech names. Polymarket odds show just a 6.5% probability that IonQ, Inc.(IONQ.US) will beat market expectations when it reports earnings on August 5.

🕐 Earlier Today

EUR/USD Consolidates Near 1.1455 Ahead of Key European Data

EUR/USD traded near 1.1455 on Thursday, pulling back slightly following a two-day rebound as markets await Germany's preliminary July HICP inflation data and Q2 Eurozone GDP figures, which could bolster expectations for European Central Bank rate hikes if inflation remains sticky.

July 29

Oil Rebounds on U.S.-Saudi Joint Strikes and Supply Concerns

WTI crude rose around 3.5% to near $82 per barrel, while Brent crude jumped 5% to touch $88, boosted by joint U.S.-Saudi strikes against Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq and U.S. interceptions of Iranian missiles targeting its Middle East bases. Following a three-day slide that marked its largest drop since April 2020, crude rebounded as market anxieties reignited over potential energy supply disruptions and renewed inflationary pressures.

🕐 Earlier Today

SK Hynix Shares Tumble Despite Record Q2 Operating Profit

SK hynix Inc. Sponsored ADR(SKHY.US) reported a record 557% year-over-year surge in Q2 operating profit, yet its shares plummeted about 25% over two days—triggering a rare circuit breaker in South Korea—after management failed to detail shareholder return plans or long-term contract specifics. The sell-off pushed South Korea's KOSPI index down nearly 10% intraday below the 6,000 mark to its lowest level since early April, driven by mounting worries over the sustainability of AI capex and rising competition from Chinese memory makers.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin Stabilizes Near $64,500 Following Asian Tech Sell-off

Bitcoin briefly tumbled over 3% on Tuesday to a 10-day low, tracking a broader plunge in Asian tech equities and cautious sentiment ahead of the Fed policy decision, before stabilizing near $64,497 with a modest 1% daily gain. Meanwhile, Ethereum defied the downturn with a 5% gain, while major altcoins such as XRP, Solana, and Cardano traded lower.

🕐 Earlier Today

Dollar Holds Near One-Month High Ahead of Unpredictable Fed Decision

The U.S. Dollar Index hovered near a one-month high around 101.3, as market odds for a surprise 25-basis-point July rate hike rose from 25% to roughly 30%–33%, with a September hike priced at over 80%. New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's "no-guidance" policy approach has made the upcoming decision unusually difficult to predict, leaving investors closely watching the policy statement and press conference for clues.

🕐 Earlier Today

EUR/USD Rebounds Slightly; Australian Dollar Hits Two-Week Low

EUR/USD edged up 0.06% to near 1.14 after touching a one-month low. Conversely, the Australian Dollar weakened sharply to a two-week low near 0.6950 after Australia's June CPI slowed to 3.8% year-over-year—below the 4% expectation—leading traders to significantly scale back expectations for further RBA rate hikes.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Equities Edge Up Ahead of Microsoft and Meta Earnings

The S&P 500 index(SPX.US) closed slightly higher on Tuesday and the Dow gained 1%, offsetting drag from the semiconductor sell-off that had pushed the NASDAQ-100(NDX.US) close to correction territory. Investor attention now turns to Q2 earnings from Microsoft Corporation(MSFT.US) and Meta Platforms(META.US) on Wednesday, where AI capital expenditure guidance is viewed as a crucial catalyst for stock trajectory.

🕐 Earlier Today

Gold Stabilizes Near $4,000 as Rebounding Oil Sparks Inflation Concerns

Spot gold stabilized near a six-day low of $4,000 per ounce following two consecutive sessions of losses, as traders refrained from taking major positions ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate announcement. While gold maintains safe-haven appeal, the rebound in crude oil prices has rekindled inflation concerns, capping near-term upside for non-yielding assets.

July 28

South Korean Stocks Plunge Over 10% on CXMT Debuting Spurt

South Korea's Kospi index tumbled over 10% in its largest single-day drop in five months, with Samsung and SK Hynix dropping over 9.5% and 10.9% intraday as market panic spread. The sell-off was triggered by Chinese memory maker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) surging over 500% on its Shanghai STAR Market debut to a market cap near $540 billion, intensifying fears over rising competition for U.S., Japanese, and South Korean market leaders.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Memory Makers Slide Amid Profit-Taking and Apple DRAM Testing

Sandisk Corporation(SNDK.US), Micron Technology, Inc.(MU.US), and Western Digital Corporation(WDC.US) faced sharp declines following massive year-to-date gains of 223% for Micron and 505% for Sandisk Corporation(SNDK.US), triggering heavy profit-taking. Reports that Apple is testing CXMT's DRAM chips further heightened market concerns over Chinese suppliers penetrating high-end supply chains.

🕐 Earlier Today

WTI Crude Retreats as U.S. Halts Iran Strikes

WTI crude fell 2.59% to near $80.47 per barrel—after plunging over 9% earlier in the session—as the U.S. paused military strikes on Iran and signaled potential diplomatic resolutions. Although shipping volume through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal, market anxieties over major energy supply disruptions cooled noticeably.

🕐 Earlier Today

Dollar Index Touches One-Month High Ahead of Fed Policy Decision

The U.S. Dollar Index rose to a one-month high on expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain a hawkish stance, pushing EUR/USD down to a monthly low near 1.1362. CME rate futures point to an ~80% probability of a September rate hike, with investor focus shifting to Wednesday's Fed decision and Chair Warsh's remarks.

🕐 Earlier Today

Gold and Silver Slip as Safe-Haven Demand Fades

Spot gold dropped 0.7% to $4,049.12 per ounce as a stronger dollar and easing U.S.-Iran tensions dampened safe-haven buying. Silver fell 1.6% alongside slight weakness in platinum, as market participants redirected their attention toward upcoming central bank interest rate decisions.

🕐 Earlier Today

Forced De-leveraging Drives Tech Volatility Despite Retail Optimism

Commentator Jim Cramer warned that the sharp sell-off in chip stocks stems from aggressive, highly leveraged margin calls rather than deteriorating fundamentals, as NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA.US), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US), and Intel Corporation(INTC.US) dropped nearly 5%, 8%, and 3.5% intraday. While Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US) and Intel maintain year-to-date gains of 144% and 150% and retail traders remain optimistic, institutional investors are increasingly buying put options to hedge downside risk.

July 27

Oil Drops as U.S.-Iran Air Strikes Pause

Brent crude fell into the $91–$92 range and WTI crude slipped below $85 to around $84 per barrel after the U.S. paused its bombing campaign against Iran, which signaled it would halt attacks if a ceasefire holds. Although markets welcomed potential de-escalation and the eventual resumption of Strait of Hormuz shipping, persistent Houthi strikes on Saudi Red Sea facilities highlighted lingering geopolitical fragility.

🕐 Earlier Today

Dollar Eases as Cooling Oil Prices Soften Rate Expectations

The U.S. Dollar Index dropped 0.25% to 101.23 as falling crude prices eased inflation concerns and lowered expectations for further Federal Reserve rate hikes. The euro rose 0.2% to near 1.1390 and sterling advanced to 1.3353, though technical analysis from ActionForex suggests near-term pressure could push EUR/USD back toward 1.1300 support.

🕐 Earlier Today

Global Equities Rally Ahead of Fed Decision and Tech Earnings

S&P 500 index(SPX.US) futures rose 0.8%–0.9%, NASDAQ-100(NDX.US) futures surged 1.3%–1.5%, and the STOXX Europe 600 gained nearly 1% as geopolitical tensions eased and oil prices receded. Asia-Pacific markets traded higher across the board—with Japan's Nikkei up 0.4% and South Korea's tech index up 0.6%—as investors positioned for this week's Fed policy decision and major tech earnings.

🕐 Earlier Today

CXMT Soars Over 500% in Record Shanghai IPO

ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) debuted on Shanghai's STAR Market, surging from its issue price of 8.66 yuan to 54.65 yuan. The debut pushed its market capitalization to 3.65 trillion yuan (~$539 billion)—making it Asia's largest IPO this year. Raising at least $8.6 billion, CXMT's first-day gains outstripped SK Hynix's recent Nasdaq listing performance.

🕐 Earlier Today

Gold Rebounds to $4,110 on Softer Dollar and Easing Inflation Expectations

Spot gold advanced toward $4,110 per ounce, supported by a weakening U.S. dollar and cooling inflation expectations following the pullback in oil prices. Despite gold's appeal as an inflation hedge, traders continue to gauge how the Federal Reserve's rate trajectory might weigh on non-yielding assets.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin Holds Above $65,000 as Traders Eye Post-Fed Upside

Bitcoin traded essentially flat around $65,192, with options traders placing $2.5 billion in bullish open interest targeting a potential post-Fed rally toward $72,000. Ethereum rose approximately 1.9% to $1,948 over the same period, signaling cautious optimism across crypto markets.

🕐 Earlier Today

Nvidia in Talks for $250 Billion OpenAI Data Center Backstop

NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA.US) is in discussions to provide roughly $250 billion in financing guarantees to support OpenAI's lease of a 10-gigawatt data center hub developed by SoftBank in southern Ohio—a project whose total cost could top $500 billion. The Wall Street Journal report drove Oracle Corporation(ORCL.US) shares higher pre-market, underscoring ongoing momentum in artificial intelligence infrastructure spending.

July 24

Oil Tops $100 Before Pulling Back, Goldman Warns of $120 Risk

Brent crude surged past $100 per barrel on Thursday—hitting its highest level since May—following Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers, threats to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and ongoing U.S.-Iran conflicts. Prices eased on Friday with WTI dropping 2.71% to around $89.69, though crude held weekly gains of 11% to 13.5%; Goldman Sachs warned Brent could spike to $120 if Strait of Hormuz disruptions persist.

🕐 Earlier Today

Tech Sell-off Triggers Major U.S. Stock Indices' Worst Day in a Month

Alphabet Inc. Class A(GOOGL.US) and Tesla Motors, Inc.(TSLA.US) plunged following earnings due to surging AI spending that reignited profitability concerns, driving the Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US), S&P 500 index(SPX.US), and NASDAQ(IXIC.US) to their largest single-day drops in a month. Tesla Motors, Inc.(TSLA.US) posted its worst weekly performance of the year, while SpaceX(SPCX.US) stock plunged over 50% from its historical highs, prompting a broader sell-off across the space sector.

🕐 Earlier Today

Asian Markets Plunge Amid New U.S. Tariffs and Global Trade Pressures

Japan's Nikkei fell roughly 2.5%, while South Korea's KOSPI and KOSDAQ triggered circuit breakers, prompting regulators to move up higher margin requirements on leveraged ETFs to July 31 to curb speculation. New 10%–12.5% U.S. tariffs on 60 trading partners took effect Friday, increasing pressure on export-oriented economies and leading Indian equities to their largest weekly drop in four months.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Dollar Reaches Three-Week High as Haven Demand Grows

Safe-haven demand pushed the U.S. Dollar Index to a three-week high near 101.5, with USD/JPY briefly touching a 40-year low of 163.99. EUR/USD fell to a three-week low near 1.1379 as Europe's energy import dependence and a roughly 40% market-priced probability of a September Fed rate hike lent further support to the greenback.

🕐 Earlier Today

Gold and Silver Drop as 10-Year Treasury Yield Spikes

Despite mounting geopolitical risks, spot gold fell 1.92% to $4,049 per ounce—testing $4,025 after breaking below $4,040 support—while silver plunged 3.54% to $57.61. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed to 4.699%, driven by renewed inflation fears and uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's rate path.

🕐 Earlier Today

Triple-Digit Oil Stokes Stagflation Fears Ahead of Fed Meeting

Crude returning to $100 triggered widespread market discussions of stagflation, while European natural gas prices reached their highest level since March to log their largest single-month gain in July. While the ECB held rates steady on Thursday while hinting at potential tightening ahead, attention turns to next week's highly anticipated Fed policy decision amid deep market division over whether a rate hike is coming.

🕐 Earlier Today

CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate as Bitcoin Holds Steady

The highly anticipated CLARITY Act faces Senate delays driven by midterm election politics and ethical disputes surrounding Trump, with Polymarket passage odds dropping from 80% to 37%. Bitcoin traded slightly lower at $64,934.73, down 0.17%, reflecting overall cautious market sentiment.

July 23

Oil Surges to Six-Week Highs on Dual Chokepoint Fears

Brent crude surged past $98 per barrel and WTI crossed $90 to hit six-week highs following Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers and ongoing strikes between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Markets fear simultaneous disruptions across both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, driving supply risks sharply higher.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Dollar Strengthens as Rate Hike Odds Increase

The U.S. Dollar Index remained above 101, supported by a geopolitical risk premium and rising Fed rate hike expectations. GBP/USD fell below 1.34, while USD/JPY touched a near 40-year high of 163.3. Market odds for a July Fed rate hike rose from 12% a week ago to around 35%, with a September hike priced at 78%.

🕐 Earlier Today

Gold Retracts Gains as Rate Hike Concerns Offset Safe-Haven Bids

Spot gold initially bounced to near $4,160 per ounce on safe-haven buying, but later pulled back roughly 1% as surging oil prices heightened rate hike expectations; it currently trades above $4,100. Silver jumped over 6% to around $59, though analysts note high interest rates make a return to historical highs difficult for precious metals.

🕐 Earlier Today

ECB Holds Rates, Signals Potential September Hike

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged as expected, but President Christine Lagarde signaled that second-round inflation effects from the Middle East energy shock could force a rate hike to 2.50% in September. Markets have now fully priced in two to three rate hikes over the next year.

🕐 Earlier Today

Tech Earnings Pressure Market Futures

Alphabet Inc. Class A(GOOGL.US) shares fell after hours despite raising its 2026 capital expenditure guidance by $1.5 billion to $195–$205 billion, as renewed concerns over AI spending sustainability weighed on U.S. stock futures, sending Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) futures down about 225 points. Tesla Motors, Inc.(TSLA.US) reported significant deterioration in Q2 margins and cash flow; while deliveries were acceptable, earnings fell far short of expectations, dampening sentiment across the EV sector.

🕐 Earlier Today

Semiconductor Stocks See Targeted Upgrades

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US) gained analyst favor following a major Microsoft Corporation(MSFT.US) Azure order to deploy Instinct MI455 GPUs, with price targets raised to $564. Marvell Technology(MRVL.US) was highlighted as an undervalued AI infrastructure play after a 34% pullback, earning a $250 price target. Asian chip stocks drew support from AI capex optimism, partially offsetting market pressure from rising oil prices.

🕐 Earlier Today

Indian Rupee and Equities Strained by High Crude Costs

The Indian rupee approached a two-month low due to escalating crude import costs, with central bank intervention moderating losses; however, analysts warn that Brent crude breaking $100 could exert further pressure. Indian equities fell on inflation and widening trade deficit concerns, with GIFT Nifty futures pointing to a lower open relative to Wednesday's close.

July 21

Bitcoin Stabilizes Above $65,000

Bitcoin is trading at $65,178, up 1.48%, following a temporary dip below $63,000 caused by a sharp sell-off in global semiconductor stocks and rising U.S.-Iran tensions. As risk sentiment recovers, the broader cryptocurrency market has stabilized, pushing Bitcoin back above the $65,000 mark.

🕐 Earlier Today

Strategy Holds Off on Bitcoin Purchases to Boost Cash Reserves

Strategy(MSTR.US) sold approximately $263.2 million in MSTR stock last week without making any Bitcoin purchases, using $225 million of the proceeds to bolster its USD reserves to $3.225 billion. MSTR stock is down 38.6% year-to-date, with its 843,775 BTC holdings currently reflecting an unrealized loss of roughly $9 billion based on current market prices.

🕐 Earlier Today

WTI Crude Eases Following Ceasefire Proposal

WTI crude fell 0.56% to $82.02 per barrel after Brent crude briefly broke $90, hitting a one-month high. The decline stems from Iranian officials confirming receipt of a 10-day ceasefire proposal from mediators, though prices remain supported as Yemen's Houthi movement declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Airstrikes and Iranian Counter-Attacks Disrupt Shipping

U.S. forces conducted a 10th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, while Iran retaliated against tankers in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data reveals that only about 20 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, bringing shipping activity near a standstill and heightening global energy supply risks.

🕐 Earlier Today

EUR/USD Downside Risks Persist Ahead of ECB Meeting

EUR/USD edged up just 0.07% to 1.1400 as persistent Middle East geopolitical tensions drove safe-haven demand for the U.S. dollar, weighing on the euro. Technical indicators point downward, with EUR/USD trading below its 200-period moving average (around 1.1480), the RSI under 50, and MACD in negative territory ahead of Thursday's European Central Bank meeting.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Tech Stocks Rally Led by Semiconductors

Despite geopolitical headwinds, U.S. equities closed higher on Monday led by semiconductor gains, with the NASDAQ(IXIC.US) Composite rising 0.98% to 25,769 and the S&P 500 index(SPX.US) gaining 0.65% to 7,505. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US) drew continued investor interest following a major partnership with Microsoft Corporation(MSFT.US)'s Helios AI platform and raised price targets, while Tesla Motors, Inc.(TSLA.US) shares remain down over 15% year-to-date ahead of its Q2 earnings report on July 22.

July 20

Oil Prices Surge Above $90

Brent crude rose over 3% to top $90 per barrel—its highest level in over a month—following a ninth consecutive round of U.S. airstrikes against Iran. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain unsafe for oil and gas shipping as long as U.S. military operations continue.

🕐 Earlier Today

Gold Holds Nearing $4,020 Amid Rate Decision Uncertainty

Spot gold edged up 0.1% to $4,020 per ounce as investors weighed Middle East tensions against the impact of rising oil prices on Fed policy. ANZ analysts expect the Fed to hold rates steady at its July 29 meeting, forecasting gold support between $3,800 and $4,000.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin Dips Slightly After Strong Recovery

Bitcoin dropped 1.18% to around $63,914, following a strong rebound from its early-July low of $58,000. Traders executed a call spread, buying 20,000 $70,000 call options and selling an equal number of $72,000 calls expiring July 31—two days after the Fed's rate decision.

🕐 Earlier Today

EUR/USD Bearish Ahead of ECB Meeting

EUR/USD trades near 1.14 below its 100-day SMA, presenting a bearish technical outlook. While the ECB is expected to hold rates at 2.25% this Thursday, markets have largely priced in a September rate hike, though surging oil prices complicate the inflation outlook.

🕐 Earlier Today

TSMC Expands Arizona Investment Despite Stock Dip

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR(TSM.US) CFO Wendell Huang confirmed strong multi-year AI chip demand and announced an expanded investment of up to $265 billion in its Arizona plant. Despite record Q2 results, TSMC's Taipei-listed shares fell 7.3% on Friday, though they remain up nearly 50% year-to-date.

🕐 Earlier Today

Tech Earnings in Focus After Nasdaq Pullback

Major tech companies including Alphabet Inc. Class A(GOOGL.US), Tesla Motors, Inc.(TSLA.US), Intel Corporation(INTC.US), and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US) report earnings this week, providing crucial market direction. After the NASDAQ(IXIC.US) fell 2.9% last week due to a chip sell-off, investors are watching closely to see if tech giants can justify their massive AI spending.

July 17

U.S. Equities Rise as Cooling CPI and Bank Earnings Boost Sentiment

The S&P 500 rose 0.38% to 7,543.89, the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.90% to 26,107.01, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed slightly higher by 10 points. Market risk appetite improved markedly following June CPI data, which cooled to 3.5% year-on-year (falling below expectations), coupled with strong earnings reports from major banks.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin Tops $64,000 Following CPI Release but Faces Lingering ETF Outflows

Boosted by the cooling CPI data, Bitcoin briefly rallied above $64,000 and is currently trading at $64,589.99, down a marginal 0.59% for the day. Bitfinex analysts noted that Bitcoin ETFs have experienced continuous net outflows since mid-May, indicating that institutional demand has not yet bottomed out, leaving prices highly dependent on the macroeconomic environment.

🕐 Earlier Today

Oil Climbs as U.S.-Iran Conflict Renews Shipping Supply Risks

Crude oil prices rose 1.15% to $80.25 per barrel, after Brent crude briefly breached $85 per barrel earlier. Following a new round of U.S. military strikes against Iran and subsequent Iranian threats to blockade the Strait of Hormuz alongside other shipping lanes, U.S. gasoline prices may once again approach $4 per gallon.

🕐 Earlier Today

ASML Beats Q2 Estimates and Upgrades 2026 Financial Guidance

ASML Holding NV ADRhedged(ASMH.US) reported Q2 total net sales of €9.3 billion and a net profit of €2.9 billion, both beating market expectations. The company also upwardly revised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to between €43 billion and €45 billion, with gross margin expectations projected in the range of 54% to 56%.

🕐 Earlier Today

SK Hynix Bounces Back 13% in Seoul After Global Chip Stock Drubbing

Following last week's heavy sell-off triggered by HBM fixed-price contracts and delays in HBM4 shipments—which dragged down peer chip stocks like Micron Technology, Inc.(MU.US), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US), and Lam Research Corporation(LRCX.US) by 4% to 5%—South Korea's SK hynix Inc. Sponsored ADR(SKHY.US) rebounded sharply by approximately 13% on Wednesday in Seoul, tracking the recovery in U.S. tech shares.

July 14

U.S. Equities Slide as Trump Reinstates Iran Port Blockade

Market risk sentiment soured after Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian ports, followed by large-scale, retaliatory weekend airstrikes between the U.S. and Iran. On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 138 points (-0.26%), the S&P 500 dropped 59.92 points (-0.79%), and the Nasdaq shed 408 points (-1.55%).

🕐 Earlier Today

Oil Surges to Four-Week Highs on Renewed Strait of Hormuz Risks

Reignited conflict between the U.S. and Iran has brought shipping risks back to the Strait of Hormuz. Following the U.S. decision to restore the maritime blockade on Iran, Brent crude touched approximately $85 per barrel and WTI crude rose to around $79.79 per barrel, both marking nearly four-week highs. Crude oil is currently trading at $80.34 per barrel, up 2.82% for the day.

🕐 Earlier Today

Tech Leads Market Losses as Semiconductor Shares Extend Declines

Battered by the sharp plunge in SK hynix Inc. Sponsored ADR(SKHY.US)'s stock and surging oil prices, semiconductor shares faced heavy selling pressure. Intel fell 4% to $104.97, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US) similarly slid about 4%, andApplied Materials, Inc.(AMAT.US) also traded lower. Technology was the worst-performing sector within the S&P 500 index(SPX.US).

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin Hovers Near $62,479, Remaining Down 52% from Historic Highs

Bitcoin is currently trading at $62,479, with a marginal daily gain of 0.35%. This leaves the cryptocurrency down over 52% from its historical peak of $126,000 set in October, following a 13.4% drop in the second quarter. A Bitwise report noted that July has historically seen an average gain of 10.7%, which may provide near-term support for stabilization.

🕐 Earlier Today

Euro Holds Flat Ahead of Key U.S. CPI Data and Fed Testimony

The Euro showed little movement against the greenback, trading at $1.14 with a muted gain of just 0.01%. Markets are awaiting the release of June CPI data, with year-on-year inflation expected to cool to 3.8% from 4.2%. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair Walsh is scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday.

🕐 Earlier Today

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery Shares Rise Despite Multi-State Antitrust Lawsuit

California, alongside 11 other states, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would create a monopoly. Despite the legal challenge, shares of Paramount rose 2.9% and Warner Bros. Discovery gained 2.6% following the announcement.

July 13

Oil Surges as Iran Announces Closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Following retaliatory weekend military strikes between the United States and Iran, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing Brent crude to rise 4.38% to $79.5 per barrel and WTI crude to climb 4.30% to $74.20 per barrel. With the strait carrying approximately 20% of the world's oil supply, the escalation has triggered deep market anxieties over global energy supply disruptions.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Dollar Ticks Up as Geopolitical Risks Cloud Fed Rate Path

Driven by the reignited conflict in the Middle East, the U.S. Dollar rose against most major currencies, while EUR/USD managed a muted gain of just 0.16% to trade at 1.14. Analysts noted that intensifying geopolitical risks combined with surging energy prices are amplifying inflationary pressures, casting further uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's monetary policy path.

🕐 Earlier Today

Global Stocks Slide Under Geopolitical Strain; SPY Prediction Points Lower

As the deteriorating situation in the Middle East prompted investors to flee risk assets, Asian and European equities fell broadly on Monday. Prediction markets showed a high 67% probability of the S&P 500 index(SPX.US) ETF (SPY) closing lower for the day, reflecting prevailing pessimistic market sentiment.

🕐 Earlier Today

SK Hynix Plummets Over 15% in Seoul Post-Nasdaq Debut

Following its successful listing on Nasdaq, SK hynix Inc.(SKHY.US)'s shares in Seoul plummeted by more than 15% on Monday, marking its largest single-day drop on record. Analysts attributed the crash to heavy investor profit-taking and a correction of overly optimistic market expectations regarding the semiconductor sector's earnings outlook.

🕐 Earlier Today

TSMC Beats Expectations with 36% Revenue Growth Driven by AI Demand

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR(TSM.US), the world's largest contract chipmaker, announced Q2 revenue of NT$1.27 trillion, a 36% year-on-year increase that beat market expectations. The stellar performance was fueled by sustained, surging demand for AI-related chips, offering a bright spot for the tech sector amid broader geopolitical uncertainties.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin Slides as Seven-Year Dormant Whale Stirs

Bitcoin is currently trading at $63,010, down 1.15%. On-chain data revealed that a whale address dormant for seven years transferred approximately $188 million worth of Bitcoin. The wallet was last active when Bitcoin traded at roughly $6,475—marking an nearly tenfold increase in value during the period—sparking market concerns over potential selling pressure.

July 10

Oil Prices Spike Past $80 as Trump Declares Iran Truce Over

U.S. President Donald Trump announced at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, that the temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran has "ended." This declaration caused Brent crude futures to skyrocket by over 5% in a single day, briefly breaching $80 per barrel. Immediately following the announcement, the U.S. military launched a new round of airstrikes against Iranian targets, escalating the risk of supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and keeping upward pressure on oil prices.

🕐 Earlier Today

Dow Drops 562 Points on Middle East Tensions While Select Tech Shares Hold Ground

Weighed down by the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by approximately 562 points, while the S&P 500 closed down 0.3%. The surge in oil prices dragged down the airline, consumer, and banking sectors. However, NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA.US) rose by 3% and Broadcom Limited(AVGO.US) surged nearly 6%, providing some support to the broader indices.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin Gains 1.41% Amid Tightening Regulatory Warnings from India

Bitcoin is currently trading at $63,110.38, marking a 24-hour gain of 1.41%. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India reiterated its support for a policy "leaning towards a ban" on cryptocurrencies, warning that transactions conducted through offshore exchanges are difficult to track. Expectations of tightening regulation have placed a drag on market sentiment.

🕐 Earlier Today

SK Hynix’s $28 Billion U.S. Share Sale Draws Blockbuster Demand

According to people familiar with the matter, demand for SK hynix(SKHY.US)'s $28 billion U.S. stock offering exceeded the available shares by more than seven times, underscoring intense investor interest in core companies within the AI supply chain. Conversely, weighed down by Samsung’s disappointing financial results, South Korea's KOSPI index remained under pressure and briefly entered bear market territory.

🕐 Earlier Today

Mixed Results Across Asian Markets as Indian Equities Edge Higher

Chinese equities rebounded on expectations of economic stimulus policies, while the fresh U.S. military strikes on Iran and rising oil prices weighed on most other Asian markets. In India, stock markets edged slightly higher on Thursday, recovering marginally after a plunge of over 2% in the previous session that wiped out nearly 8 trillion rupees in investor wealth.

🕐 Earlier Today

Euro Remains Flat While U.S. Dollar Gains on Safe-Haven Flows

The Euro rose a marginal 0.10% to $1.14, maintaining a largely stable trend. Escalating tensions in the Middle East have driven safe-haven demand toward the greenback, keeping the U.S. Dollar Index hovering around 100.96. Meanwhile, the Japanese Yen fluctuated near 162, remaining close to a 40-year low.

July 08

Israel Prepares for Potential Resumption of Military Conflict with Iran

According to Israeli media outlet Walla, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) held a meeting with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) regarding Iran. Israel is currently preparing for the possible resumption of combat operations with Iran.

🕐 Earlier Today

Trump Declares Temporary Ceasefire with Iran Over Following U.S. Strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump stated at the annual NATO summit on Wednesday that the temporary ceasefire agreement he reached with Iran has ended, heightening the risk of renewed military conflict. Trump remarked, "To me, I think it's over," adding that continuing negotiations felt like a "waste of time."

His comments followed fresh U.S. military strikes against Iran and the revocation of oil export sanctions waivers—actions triggered by recent attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. While criticizing Iran's leadership and expressing pessimism about diplomatic strategies, Trump noted he would not block negotiators from continuing their contacts.

Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions

The United States launched a new round of military strikes against Iran in response to attacks on three commercial oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose by more than 3% to approximately $76 per barrel. Concurrently, the U.S. Department of the Treasury revoked the sanctions waivers that allowed Iran to sell oil, further driving up oil prices.

🕐 Earlier Today

Chip Stocks Plunge on Weak Earnings and Market Concerns

Chip stocks fell sharply after Samsung Electronics released preliminary financial results that missed market expectations. Intel Corporation(INTC.US) dropped by about 10%, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(AMD.US) fell by around 8%, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index declined by 4.65%. Additionally, news that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is developing its own AI chips has further intensified market concerns regarding the sustainability of the AI rally.

🕐 Earlier Today

Cryptocurrency Market Declines Across the Board

Impacted by the worsening U.S.-Iran situation and the sell-off in technology stocks, market risk sentiment weakened, causing Bitcoin to drop to approximately $61,812. Major cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin, also fell across the board.

🕐 Earlier Today

U.S. Dollar Strengthens Amid Geopolitical Risks

Geopolitical tensions have driven up safe-haven demand, pushing the U.S. Dollar Index to its highest level since July 2. The USD/JPY broke above 162, with the Yen hovering near a 40-year low, triggering market vigilance over potential intervention by Japanese authorities.

🕐 Earlier Today

RBNZ Raises Interest Rates unexpectedly

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced a 25-basis-point increase in its benchmark interest rate and hinted at potential subsequent hikes, prompting the New Zealand Dollar to rise by about 0.5%. This move marks the first time in three years that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has initiated a rate hike cycle.

🕐 Earlier Today

South Korea's KOSPI Enters Technical Bear Market

South Korea's KOSPI index plummeted by more than 5% at one point during Wednesday's trading, marking a cumulative decline of over 20% from its historical peak recorded on June 22 and entering technical bear market territory. Severe volatility in semiconductor stocks and large-scale profit-taking by foreign investors were the main drags, prompting South Korea's Finance Minister to convene an emergency meeting to closely monitor market risks.

July 7

The S&P 500 Index rose 0.72% to 7,537 points, the Nasdaq increased by 1.12% to 26,121 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.29% to 53,055 points. Broadcom Limited(AVGO.US) jumped 3.7% and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 2.2%, as AI-related stocks regained market confidence.

🕐 Earlier Today

SpaceX(SPCX.US) was officially included in the NASDAQ-100(NDX.US) Index on Tuesday, July 7, which is expected to trigger forced buying from approximately $800 billion in passively tracking funds. However, a former Nasdaq CEO warned that up to $800 billion in insider shares set to unlock over the coming months could place significant downward pressure on the stock price.

🕐 Earlier Today

Samsung Electronics announced its second-quarter operating profit at approximately 89.4 trillion Korean won, a year-on-year increase of nearly 19 times that beat market expectations; however, its stock price still tumbled about 7.9% intraday, while competitor SK Hynix fell around 7.3%, dragging South Korea's KOSPI index down by 6%. Concerns over the sustainability of AI chip demand left Asian stock markets generally under pressure.

🕐 Earlier Today

Bitcoin is currently down about 54% from its historic high in October 2025, falling 1.08% on the day to around $63,305. Strategy (MSTR) disclosed a digital asset loss of $8.32 billion for the quarter ending June 30 and noted it has sold a portion of its Bitcoin to pay preferred stock dividends, while Trump meme coin holders accumulated losses as high as $3.81 billion.

🕐 Earlier Today

Crude oil prices rebounded slightly due to an attack on a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, with WTI crude rising about 1.17% to $69.35 per barrel. Despite OPEC+ announcing continuous production hikes and Saudi Aramco implementing its largest price cut for Asian buyers in 26 years (slashing prices by $11 per barrel), geopolitical risks provided some support for oil prices.

🐀񤀠Earlier Today

The Japanese Yen hovered near 162 per US dollar, touching a 40-year low, as markets bet that the Japanese authorities' willingness to intervene in the foreign exchange market is being tested. EUR/USD fell 0.16% on the day to 1.14, testing the lower bound of its 1.14 to 1.18 year-to-date range, though MUFG expects Eurozone economic resilience to push the currency pair back toward the upper end of the range.

July 6

Bitcoin is trading firmly as the passage probability of the CLARITY Act on the prediction market Polymarket broke through 50%, gaining support from over 200 crypto companies, including Coinbase, Ripple, and Kraken. Bitcoin is currently priced at $63,478.97, down slightly by 0.17%, while the market concurrently watches ETF fund flows and macroeconomic data to determine Bitcoin's next move.

🕐 Earlier Today

OPEC+ has agreed to increase its oil production target by an additional 188,000 barrels per day starting in August, marking the group's fifth consecutive production hike. Meanwhile, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is recovering rapidly, bringing a large amount of Persian Gulf crude oil back to the market. JPMorgan Chase warned that the market is facing risks of oversupply; crude oil is currently trading at $69.07 per barrel, up slightly by 0.42%.

🕐 Earlier Today

The state funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has drawn intense regional attention, and Tehran will close its airspace on Monday. Negotiations between the US and Iran are set to resume this week, and the long-term security of the Strait of Hormuz will also be addressed at the NATO Ankara Summit. These geopolitical dynamics continue to influence crude oil prices and global market sentiment.

🕐 Earlier Today

US stock index futures ticked slightly higher on Sunday evening, following gains across major indexes during the holiday-shortened trading week. Investors will focus heavily on the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting minutes for clues regarding the interest rate path, as lower-than-expected June employment data has already cooled market bets on a September rate hike.

🕐 Earlier Today

Samsung Electronics expects its operating profit to achieve a massive growth of approximately 18 times to hit a record high, primarily driven by robust AI demand for memory chips. Meanwhile, SK Hynix is set to list on the NASDAQ(IXIC.US) this week with a scale of about $29 billion, which is poised to become one of the largest IPOs by a foreign company in the US, further highlighting the high prosperity of the AI chip sector.

🕐 Earlier Today

Elon Musk’s SpaceX(SPCX.US) is scheduled to be officially included in the NASDAQ-100(NDX.US) Index before Tuesday's market open, marking a significant shift for the benchmark tech index. Meanwhile, PepsiCo, Inc.(PEP.US) and Delta Air Lines, Inc.(DAL.US) will be the first to report second-quarter results, testing market expectations for an overall earnings growth exceeding 24% for S&P 500 index(SPX.US) components.