Bitcoin fell to ~$63,316 after a brief rally, as renewed Israel-Iran conflict triggered a risk-off market, surging energy prices and dragging equity markets down, highlighting crypto's vulnerability to geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures.
European stocks traded flat Thursday as US-Iran tensions escalated, despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Universal Music Group shares fell after Pershing Square sold its stake.
European stocks are expected to open lower on Thursday due to escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Iran's airport was reportedly struck, and Israel and the US are prepared to strike Iran again if necessary.
South Korea's Kospi index has become the world's 6th largest stock market, surpassing India, driven by AI chip demand. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics' valuations have soared, but concerns about market concentration and potential AI bubble persist.
Industrial metals like copper, aluminum, and zinc are experiencing volatility due to inflation fears, impacting global bond markets. Supply chain disruptions and fluctuating demand are creating uncertainty for these key economic indicators.
Global markets face a potential tipping point as rising bond yields pressure equity trading, with U.S. Treasury yields hitting multi-decade highs. Geopolitical news includes an invitation for Xi Jinping to visit Russia and a U.S. Senate resolution to halt military action in Iran. Nvidia's earnings are highly anticipated.
Indian equity markets are in a rangebound phase, seen as an opportunity by investors like Varun Goel of Mirae Asset. Despite geopolitical risks, India's macro fundamentals are strong. Sectors like green energy, EVs, and consumer durables show growth potential. Investors are advised to focus on quality businesses with visible earnings growth.
Persistent foreign fund outflows and the rupee sliding to record lows have further dampened sentiment, prompting investors to stay cautious and intensify selling across equity markets.
Indian equity markets experienced a downturn Friday, with both Sensex and Nifty closing lower. Renewed military tensions near the Strait of Hormuz dampened investor sentiment, leading to profit-booking across various sectors. While IT stocks showed resilience, PSU banks were significantly impacted. Global markets also reflected cautious sentiment.
NYSE-listed crypto exchange operator Bullish will merge blockchain infrastructure with a transfer agent serving traditional equity markets.
NatWest reported first-quarter operating profits of £2bn, up 12% year-on-year and ahead of analyst expectations of £1.9bn, but warned the Middle East conflict could cost £140m. The bank booked a £283m impairment charge, with nearly half due to revised economic forecasts reflecting increased geopolitical risk. It now expects UK GDP growth of just 0.4% this year, unemployment to rise to 5.5%, and inflation to hit 3.5%, while forecasting base rates will remain at 3.75% until 2030.
Diageo shares rose 2% after Trump announced removal of 10% tariffs on Scotch whisky in honor of King Charles. UK house prices unexpectedly increased 0.4% in April with annual growth reaching 3.0%, while NatWest reported Q1 profits of £1.4bn despite setting aside £140m for potential economic worsening.
Passive investing has become one of the most powerful forces reshaping equity markets, and the evidence is accumulating in the returns data. Bloomberg Intelligence data compiled by ETF analyst James Seyffart shows stocks with rising passive ownership have dramatically outperformed those losing passive ownership over the past three years. The market has been rewarding inclusion, […] The post Passive money is eating stocks and Bitcoin may be next to get a huge liquidity injection appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Indian equity markets experienced a significant downturn, with the top ten most-valued firms losing over Rs 2 lakh crore. Tata Consultancy Services and Reliance Industries bore the brunt of this decline, influenced by geopolitical tensions and weak IT sector commentary. The broader market also saw substantial drops in benchmark indices.
Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden has warned that record-high global stock markets do not reflect macroeconomic risks and will face an adjustment. She cited concerns about private credit markets, highly valued AI stocks, and other risky valuations. The FTSE 100 fell over 0.5% on Friday following her interview, amid wider market concerns about the Iran war.
Mainland Chinese insurers including Ping An, Taikang Life, New China Life, Dajia Life and China Post Life have invested over US$250 million across about 11 Hong Kong IPOs in 2026, reaching 75% of last year's US$333 million total. UBS attributes the surge to China's low rate environment and government push for insurers to become patient capital.
