FISG Daily Market Wrap 12th August

Daily Market Wrap

“ Asian equities pushed higher today as strong AI-related earnings revived appetite for technology stocks, while oil extended its gains amid renewed geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.” said Amir Amidian, Director of the InterStellar Group Research Center. The Kospi surged 4%, with Samsung and SK Hynix both gaining around 7% as investors responded positively to shareholder-return expectations. The broader MSCI Asia Pacific Index also advanced 0.7%.In the US, CoreWeave jumped 16% in after-hours trading following stronger-than-expected sales driven by continued AI spending. Super Micro Computer also climbed 7.6% after its revenue outlook exceeded estimates, lifting Nasdaq 100 futures by around 0.3%.However, the stronger risk appetite remains vulnerable to geopolitical developments. Oil prices continued higher as the US and Iran appeared to harden their positions in negotiations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Hopes for a near-term breakthrough have faded, keeping energy markets on edge and adding another inflationary risk ahead of today’s US inflation data.The Dollar weakened against most G10 currencies, while the Yen remained around 159.40 per Dollar. With USD/JPY approaching the closely watched 160 level, markets remain alert to the possibility of renewed intervention from Japanese authorities.Meanwhile, the Fed outlook remains highly data-dependent. Boston Fed President Susan Collins said she would support a September rate increase if inflation remains elevated, reinforcing the importance of today’s US inflation figures for the next stage of the rate-cut debate.FISG Daily Market Wrap provides a concise view of the forces moving global markets, helping investors stay informed and better prepared for what comes next.