The tug of war between the US and Iran in Middle East between continuous mutual attacks has made markets nervous, with investors continuing to be worried on the one hand due to the high ratings of the technological sector and on the other hand for the possibility of higher interest rates.
This morning the agency Axios reported that USA and Iran they agreed to suspend the attacks and to meet this week in Qatar to resume talks on the Strait of Hormuz and other issues. A return to diplomacy follows several days of mutual retaliation, began last week with an Iranian projectile hitting a merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides accusing each other of violating a temporary ceasefire. The price of oil set the paceThis morning, the prospect of new talks leading to a tentative agreement limited gains, after they had risen in the previous hours following the resumption of hostilities. Today, Brent crude futures are up 0,4% at $72,37 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1% to $69,92 a barrel.
While the asian bags are weak, with the attention for the announcement of funding by the South Korean giants, the futures on the Wall Street indexes they are slightly up and also those on the European stock exchanges they predict a little varied opening.
This week, the attention of market operators will be on theannual meeting of central bank presidents in Sintra, Portugal, with prominent speakers such as the president of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh. US employment data will also be in the spotlight, amid speculation that a strong US economy and rising inflation could push the Fed to raise interest rates as early as SeptemberThere may be other concerns, too: a sharp correction in the AI-driven rally, inflation and fiscal strains are among the most alarming threats to global prosperity at the moment, the Bank for International Settlements in its yesterday's annual report, in which he also cited those on a list of “critical points” that currently “require attention,” with latent financial vulnerabilities that could amplify any shock.
Asia: Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to Make Major Investments
All eyes in Asia are on South Korea. The South Korean Kospi index, after a session under pressure, closed in positive territory at +1,14%. Samsung Electronics e SK Hynix They plan to build two new massive chipmaking plants each in the southwest region of South Korea, as part of a nationwide project to create a chipmaking "ecosystem" worth 800.000 trillion won (517,87 billion U.S. dollars). The plan was unveiled as the country and chipmaking giants announced three new "mega-projects" to stimulate growth and to gain a dominant position in the artificial intelligence sector. The investment plans, according to the Korea Economic Daily, could exceed $1.300 trillion in the next 10 years.
In China, CSI 300 down 0,1%, Hang Seng up 2%, Taiex up 1,7%. China's industrial profit growth moderated for the first time since November, suggesting that strong exports and rising prices have failed to offset the drag from weak domestic demand.
IndiaBSE Sensex +0,1%. The United States is working to arrange a visit by President Donald Trump to India early next year, with the aim of finalizing a bilateral trade agreement in the coming weeks or months, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told IANS news agency.
Il Nikkei Retail sales rose 5,3% year-on-year in May, significantly exceeding expectations for a 3,1% increase.
The Hang Seng din Hong Kong is gaining about 2%, while mainland China's CSI 300 is largely unchanged, as is India's Nifty.
On the monetary front, the dollar remained largely unchanged against major currencies, near its yearly high, casting a shadow over most other currencies, but especially the yen Japanese yen, which is trading at 161,78 per dollar this morning. The only thing keeping the fragile yen from falling below its 40-year low of 161,96 is the prospect of a new cycle of interventions. Japanese authorities intervened in the market to stem the yen's depreciation between late April and early May, but, as in previous episodes in 2022 and 2024, the intervention failed to alter the currency's trajectory. And with markets betting on a rate hike by the Federal Reserve this year, the yen will need a drastic step from the Bank of Japan to truly recover.
The lost 0,5%, settling at $4.065 an ounce. U.S. Treasuries fell slightly, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year note rising one basis point to 4,38%.
Chips fell on Wall Street on Friday, while Moderna shone. Labor data came in Thursday.
The S&P 500 closed slightly lower on Friday, reeling from a sharp decline in shares of artificial intelligence chipmakers and strong gains for Moderna and other healthcare stocks. S & P 500 closed at -0,05%, Nasdaq at -0,24%, Dow at -0,09%. Thechip index It fell 5,3%. While some investors remain optimistic about AI's potential to generate greater profits, others fear that the massive investments in building AI data centers may take too long to bear fruit.
Apple gained 3,1% and partially recovered from Thursday's plunge, when it raised prices on iPads and MacBooks, due to the soaring costs of memory and storage chips. Modern jumped nearly 13%, reaching its highest level since 2024, after the pharmaceutical company hosted an investor event and unveiled its product pipeline.
Operators' attention remains high on the trajectory of the Fed's interest rates. The monthly employment report, expected on Thursday, which could increase bets on increases in rates of interest if it indicates a booming economy. U.S. financial markets will remain closed on Friday for iIndependence DayAccording to LSEG data released on Friday, federal funds rate futures point to a chance more than 50% of a rate hike by the central bank's September meeting, a reversal from earlier this year, when investors were betting on stock-market-friendly rate cuts by the end of the year.
Investors will also be closely watching the sportswear company's quarterly results. Nike which will be released this week. The second-quarter reporting season kicks into high gear toward the end of July.
The major US stock indexes are set to close a solid first semester of the year, with the benchmark S&P 500 index up more than 7% since the start of 2026. The Philadelphia index Semiconductor It has risen 85% since the market's yearly low in late March, but has fallen again since last week. Strong results from memory chip maker Micron Technology on Wednesday evening supported the group, but the Nasdaq Composite has lost more than 4% over the course of the week.
European stock markets opened slightly higher. At Piazza Affari, attention was focused on banks and StM.
European stock markets are expected to open slightly higher: Euro Stoxx 50 futures are up 0,3%.
Bpm bank – The Ministry of Economy reported that no meeting has been arranged between Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti and the top management of Credit Agricole.
Classic Ferrari for sale – Reservations for the electric model are going well in China, a Chinese trade publication reports. George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix. Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton finished fifth.
Intesa Sanpaolo, Monte dei Paschi Intesa has filed the offer document relating to its takeover bid for Monte dei Paschi with Consob.
Monte dei Paschi di Siena The Treasury, which holds just under 5% of the Sienese bank, may sell its stake through an accelerated bookbuilding operation next Tuesday. This is according to rumors published Sunday by the Newspaper, not confirmed by a ministry source.
StM – The South Korean government has unveiled a colossal plan, worth more than 1.000 trillion euros over ten years, to build semiconductor manufacturing plants and artificial intelligence data centers.
