U.S. Stock Market - U.S. stocks traded higher, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 100 points, up 0.33% to 49,259.65 [1] - The NASDAQ increased by 0.09% to 23,521.63, and the S&P 500 rose 0.26% to 6,933.84 [1] - Materials shares gained 0.8%, while health care stocks dipped by 0.2% [1] Company Earnings - Steel Dynamics Inc reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.82 per share, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.95 per share [2] - The company also reported quarterly sales of $4.414 billion, which fell short of the analyst consensus estimate of $4.575 billion [2] Commodity Market - Oil prices decreased by 0.6% to $60.72, while gold prices increased by 1.8% to $5,068.50 [4] - Silver rose by 8.1% to $109.565, and copper increased by 0.5% to $5.9770 [4] Asian Markets - Asian markets closed mixed, with Japan's Nikkei falling 1.79%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gaining 0.06%, and China's Shanghai Composite declining 0.09% [6] Stock Movements - Battalion Oil Corp shares surged 379% to $6.13 after switching gas processing partners and boosting production [8] - Brand Engagement Network Inc shares increased by 196% to $48.79 following a strategic partnership announcement [8] - Gaxos.ai Inc shares rose 76% to $1.97, while Mingteng International Corp shares dropped 36% to $2.16 [8] - CN ENERGY GROUP Inc shares fell 35% to $0.52 due to a Nasdaq delisting determination [8] - 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals Inc shares decreased by 23% to $3.52 after a 10% drop on Friday [8] Economic Indicators - U.S. durable-goods orders rose 5.3% month-over-month in November, surpassing market estimates of a 3.7% increase [9]

Geopolitical Developments & Market Impact - A 20-point proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, agreed upon by U S President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, awaits Hamas approval, potentially impacting regional stability and oil markets [1][5][38] - Qatar's role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas is crucial for the ceasefire, requiring a face-saving gesture, such as Israel expressing regret for a past attack [8][9][10] - The Israeli Shekel has strengthened against the USD by approximately 10% this year, reflecting the impact of geopolitical developments on local markets [46] - RBA (澳大利亚储备银行) holds cash rate at 36%, notes uncertainties in global environment and upside risks to inflation [40][41][42][43] Economic & Financial Market Trends - Looming U S government shutdown raises market risk, potentially delaying crucial jobs data release and impacting monetary policy assessment [2][3][23][25][44] - Gold hits record highs, massively outperforming Bitcoin, driven by uncertainty and a pullback in USD, with potential for further gains amid Fed rate cuts [3][4][23][32][33][44] - The market has aggressively priced in 3-4 rate cuts by June 2026, making upcoming jobs market data pivotal for determining monetary policy [27] - Potential tariffs on imports of timber and lumber, particularly impacting Canada, add to market uncertainty [23][39] - MSCI China is logging five-month gains, the longest streak since 2018, driven by better-than-expected PMI data and geopolitical signals [48] Energy Sector - Brent crude oil is slipping down by 08% ahead of the OPEC Plus meeting, where increased supply is expected [4] - The oil market is bearish due to well-supplied conditions, with focus on Iran snapback and Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading to investment in gold over oil [52][53] - Afentra is cautious about oil price volatility, focusing on a strong balance sheet and strategic acquisitions [64][65][66] - Nigeria's government intervenes to resolve a clash between the petroleum and natural gas association and oil labor group, potentially impacting crude production of 650 thousand barrels a day [76][77][78]

Market Overview - Asian markets displayed a mixed performance on September 30, 2025, with Japan's Nikkei 225 showing resilience despite some initial downward pressure [2][3] - The Nikkei 225 closed at 44,978 points, reflecting a slight decline of 0.15%, marking its third consecutive day of losses [3][7] - Futures for the Nikkei 225 were trading at 44,945, indicating underlying stability in the derivatives market [3][7] Company-Specific Developments - Celestial Asia Securities Holdings Limited experienced a trading halt on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), with no immediate public details available regarding the reason or duration of the halt [4][7] - The HKEX has established procedures for trading suspensions, which can be triggered by various factors, but no specific announcement was made regarding the halt on this date [4][7] Investor Sentiment - Overall market sentiment in Japan was supported by steady gains in financials and selective buying in the technology sector, which helped the Nikkei 225 recover from early losses [3][7] - Investors are closely monitoring regional and global economic indicators amidst the varied developments in Asian equities [5]