Core Viewpoint - The Tokyo stock market indices experienced upward fluctuations on the 13th, with both the Nikkei 225 and the Tokyo Stock Exchange Price Index reaching historical highs, driven by positive sentiment from the U.S. market and easing trade tensions between China and the U.S. [1][2] Group 1 - The Nikkei 225 index closed up by 1.30%, finishing at 43,274.67 points, while the Tokyo Stock Exchange Price Index rose by 0.83%, closing at 3,091.91 points [2] - The market was buoyed by the overnight rise in all three major U.S. stock indices, leading to a high opening in Tokyo [1] - Analysts noted multiple factors contributing to the market's rise, including a consensus on the continuation of a 24% tariff pause between China and the U.S., and a relatively mild U.S. consumer price index for July, which increased expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in September [1] Group 2 - Most of the 33 industry sectors on the Tokyo Stock Exchange saw gains, with notable increases in sectors such as other products, air transportation, and non-ferrous metals [2] - Conversely, four sectors, including mining, pulp and paper, and food, experienced declines [2]

Market Overview - The Japanese stock market opened high on August 13, with the Nikkei 225 index rising over 1% and surpassing the 43,000 points mark [3][4] - The Nikkei 225 index reached a current value of 43,042.48, up by 324.36 points or 0.76% [4] - The Tokyo Stock Exchange index also increased, setting a new historical high [5] Individual Stocks Performance - Notable individual stocks such as Sony, Subaru, and Toyota all saw gains exceeding 2% [7] - Sony: Current price 4,084.0, up 2.30%, market cap 25.12 trillion [7] - Subaru: Current price 3,131.0, up 2.69%, market cap 2.2952 trillion [7] - Toyota: Current price 2,916.5, up 2.15%, market cap 46.07 trillion [7] Economic Indicators - The 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose by 1.5 basis points to 1.515% [8] - Japan's wholesale price index (CGPI) for July showed a year-on-year increase of 2.6%, a slowdown from the previous month's 2.9% [8] - The import price index in yen terms decreased by 10.4% year-on-year in July, compared to a 12.2% decline in June [8] South Korean Market Update - The KOSPI composite index opened with a rise of over 1% but later experienced fluctuations [9] - South Korea's adjusted unemployment rate for July was reported at 2.5%, slightly better than the expected 2.6% [11] - Employment numbers in South Korea increased by 171,000 year-on-year in July, marking the second consecutive month with job growth exceeding 100,000 [11]

Group 1 - The easing of US-Japan trade relations and strong earnings reports from major Japanese tech companies have boosted market sentiment, leading to an increase in Asian stock markets [1][2] - The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index rose by 0.4%, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, while the Nikkei 225 Index increased by 1.9% and the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) reached a new high above 3000 points [1][2] - Japanese automotive stocks, including Toyota and Honda, saw price increases, and SoftBank's stock surged over 10% due to its return to profitability, reaching a historical high [1][2] Group 2 - The agreement between the US and Japan on tariff issues includes a unified 15% tariff on Japanese goods, which is lower than the previously threatened 25% rate by the Trump administration [1][2] - The S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures both rose by over 0.1%, indicating a potential third consecutive day of gains [1] - The US Treasury prices showed slight increases, with the 10-year Treasury yield declining by approximately 1 basis point [2]

Group 1 - The South African FTSE/JSE Africa Leading 40 Index rose by 0.95%, closing at a historical high of 92,457.00 points on July 23 [1] - The South African Rand appreciated by 0.17% against the US dollar, currently at 17.5294 Rand, approaching previous highs of 17.4872 Rand on July 4 and 17.0356 Rand on September 30, 2024 [1] - The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index increased by 0.08%, continuing a trend of setting historical closing highs since around July 7, although daily volatility has started to decrease [1] Group 2 - The Mauritius Stock Exchange SEMDEX Index rose by 0.44%, marking a new closing high since June 6 [2] - The Nairobi Stock Exchange All-Share Index in Kenya increased by 0.66% [2]

Group 1: Market Performance - Gold experienced a volatile "V-shaped" trading pattern, with a daily low of $3309.82 and a high of $3352.19, closing at $3338.99 [1] - U.S. stock markets saw collective gains, with the Nasdaq rising by 0.75%, the S&P 500 increasing by 0.54%, both reaching new closing highs, and the Dow Jones up by 0.52% [2] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Approximately 50 companies in the S&P 500 have reported quarterly earnings, with 88% exceeding analyst expectations, boosting investor confidence [4] - Initial jobless claims for the week ending July 12 were reported at 221,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week, indicating a robust job market [5] - Retail sales in June increased by 0.6% month-over-month, significantly above the Dow Jones estimate of 0.2%, alleviating concerns about consumer spending [5] Group 3: Federal Reserve and Monetary Policy - The potential nominees for the next Federal Reserve chair have shown alignment with President Trump, indicating a possible shift in monetary policy direction [7] - The current economic expansion and low unemployment rates suggest that consumer spending and profits may continue to grow, driving stock market increases [5] Group 4: Upcoming Data and Market Sentiment - Investors are focused on the upcoming University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, with an expected preliminary value of 61.5 for July, up from 60.7 in June [9] - Inflation expectations for July are projected at 5.0% for one year and 3.9% for 5-10 years, which may influence market dynamics [10] Group 5: Geopolitical Developments - Israeli airstrikes in southern Syria have raised concerns about escalating tensions in the region, with the U.S. and several Middle Eastern countries expressing opposition to foreign interference in Syria [12][13] - Russia has expressed willingness to engage in further negotiations with Ukraine, amidst ongoing sanctions and geopolitical tensions [14]

Market Performance - The US stock market continued to rise, driven by positive economic data and strong corporate earnings reports [4][5] - The S&P 500 index increased by 0.45%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose nearly 200 points (0.4%), and the Nasdaq Composite index gained approximately 0.7% [5] Corporate Earnings - Approximately 50 companies in the S&P 500 have reported earnings, with 88% exceeding analyst expectations, boosting investor confidence [6] - PepsiCo's stock surged nearly 7% following better-than-expected earnings [8] Economic Indicators - Initial jobless claims for the week ending July 12 were reported at 221,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week, indicating a robust job market [6] - Retail sales in June increased by 0.6% month-over-month, significantly above the Dow Jones estimate of 0.2%, alleviating concerns about consumer spending [6] Consumer Spending - Strong retail sales data suggests that consumers are still actively spending, which supports ongoing economic expansion [6] - Analysts believe that as long as the economy continues to grow and unemployment remains low, consumer spending will persist, driving profit growth and supporting stock market gains [6] Technology Sector - Major tech companies, including Oracle and Nvidia, reached new all-time highs, with Oracle's market capitalization rising to $700 billion after a 50% increase in stock price this year [11] - TSMC's optimistic outlook contributed to a 3% increase in its stock price, enhancing market confidence in global AI spending [10] Federal Reserve Independence - Former Fed Governor Kevin Walsh expressed confidence that the next Fed Chair will maintain the independence of the Federal Reserve, even under potential political pressure [12] - Walsh emphasized the importance of independent monetary policy execution and suggested a new agreement between the Fed and the Treasury to manage the balance sheet reduction process [13][14]

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that the rise in the stock market reflects public confidence [1] Group 1 - The stock market's upward trend is seen as a positive indicator of economic sentiment among the public [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that the recent Israel-Iran conflict has led to a temporary market reaction, but the global stock markets have rebounded quickly due to the lack of substantial disruption in energy supply and a ceasefire agreement [1][2] - The A-share market has seen significant growth, reaching a new high for the year on June 25, driven by both the easing of geopolitical tensions and domestic policy measures aimed at boosting consumption [1][3] - The differences between the Israel-Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine conflict include the scale and duration of their impacts on global markets, with the former being more localized and less likely to cause long-term economic drag [2][4] Group 2 - The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, effective June 24, is fragile, with ongoing hostilities indicating uncertainty about the long-term resolution of the conflict [3][4] - Market sentiment remains cautious due to uncertainties surrounding the future of the Israel-Iran conflict and its potential impact on the global economy [3][4] - In the event of renewed conflict, there could be a rebound in oil prices, benefiting sectors such as military and precious metals, while the impact on the A-share market is expected to diminish over time [4]

Group 1 - The S&P 500 index has risen 20% since the low in April following the announcement of new tariffs by President Trump [1] - The Nasdaq index increased by 28% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 12% during the same period [1] - Despite recent geopolitical tensions and trade issues, the S&P 500 index has maintained a positive trajectory, increasing over 5% in the past month [2] Group 2 - Analysts suggest that investor concerns over economic policy have shifted towards cautious optimism regarding tariff reductions and sustained economic growth [2] - Recent tariff reductions and positive economic data have contributed to a more favorable market outlook, with Wall Street firms softening their recession predictions [4] - The latest inflation data indicates a slight acceleration in price increases, yet inflation remains near its lowest level since 2021 [5] Group 3 - Market analysts believe that geopolitical events have a limited long-term impact on stock prices, as evidenced by the market's recovery following short-term reactions [5] - There is growing optimism regarding potential interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, with expectations of a 25 basis point cut this year and next [5] - Analysts predict that the S&P 500 index could rise from its current level of 6,090 points to 6,500 points, representing a 6% increase [8]

Group 1 - The South Korean KOSPI index increased by 2% in early trading [1] - The Nikkei 225 index in Japan rose by 1.4% [1]