Donald Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran brings welcome relief to Asian markets, according to strategists. Equities should see strong rallies across the region in the near term, they say. https://t.co/QHkyLu87kG ...

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]