MARKETS ON EDGE
Oil is back in focus as hopes for a lasting deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain uncertain.
OIL BOUNCES BACK
• Brent +1.6% to $83.80
• WTI +1.3% to $78.31
• Oil is still down ~5% this week
BONDS FEEL THE HEAT
Higher energy prices are reviving inflation fears, pushing Treasury yields higher. The 10-year yield held around 4.68%.
ASIA TURNS CAUTIOUS
• South Korea -1%
• Japan Topix +0.2%
• Hang Seng +0.1%
• Shanghai Composite +0.5%
JOBS REPORT IN FOCUS
Markets are waiting for US payrolls data for clues on the Fed’s next move. Economists expect 80,000 jobs added in July, up from 57,000 in June.
ASIA’S $83B CAPITAL BOOM
Asia Pacific share sales hit a record $83B in July, powered by AI and semiconductor deals.
CORPORATE WATCH
• SK Hynix led with a $26.5B US listing
• CXMT raised $9.9B in China’s second-largest IPO
• Alphabet plans a $25B bond sale
• DeepSeek is seeking nearly $8B in fresh funding
WHAT’S NEXT?
Oil, US jobs data and the AI capital rush are giving investors plenty to watch as markets head into the next phase.