Stock Market News·2026-01-15 02:38Geopolitical Landscape - Iran has closed its airspace to most flights amid rising tensions with the U.S., particularly with the repositioning of a U.S. carrier strike group, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, towards the region [2][7] - Iranian officials have threatened to strike American military bases in the Middle East if the U.S. takes military action, highlighting the fragility of regional stability and potential implications for global energy markets [2][7] U.S. Foreign Policy Developments - U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, indicating potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy towards Venezuela following a military operation to remove Nicolás Maduro [3] - Colombian President Gustavo Petro will also meet with President Trump to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, following a phone call that eased previous tensions [3] Technology Sector Developments - Alibaba Group has upgraded its Qwen app, allowing users to order food and book travel directly within the app, positioning it as an AI-powered lifestyle decision center [4] - This upgrade integrates services from Alibaba's ecosystem, intensifying competition in the AI e-commerce and super-app markets [4][7] Mining Sector Collaboration - Rio Tinto and BHP Group announced a collaboration to extract up to 200 million tonnes of iron ore in Australia's Pilbara region, focusing on developing Rio Tinto's Wunbye deposit and utilizing BHP's Yandi mine [5] - This joint venture aims to leverage existing infrastructure for additional production with minimal capital requirements, potentially impacting global iron ore supply [5][7] Market Performance - The Indonesia Stock Market reached a new record high of 9,081.069, rising 0.5% early on January 15, 2026, reflecting strong investor sentiment in the emerging market [6][7] Currency Market Dynamics - The AUD/USD currency pair fell below 0.6700, trading around 0.6680, influenced by easing inflation expectations in Australia, with Consumer Inflation Expectations for January decreasing to 4.6% from 4.7% [8][7]