Market Watch

Despite the S&P 500 reaching record highs, deteriorating US retail sales and falling consumer sentiment signal that equity markets may be priced to perfection with a thin margin for error. Dilin Wu, Research Strategist at Pepperstone, joins BFM’s Market Watch to analyse growing macro headwinds, upcoming tech earnings catalysts, and central bank expectations. She breaks down why the Federal Res...

Falling car sales for ten consecutive months and JD.com's first quarterly revenue drop in over a decade underscore China's persistent household consumption slowdown, even as AI tech exports continue to drive growth. Carlos Casanova, Senior Economist at UBP, joins BFM’s Market Watch to analyse why massive consumer savings are not translating into domestic spending and what structural reforms are ne...

The Black Sea is becoming an increasingly dangerous front in the Russia-Ukraine war, as attacks on ports, warships and commercial infrastructure threaten some of the world's most important grain and energy routes. A major Ukrainian strike on Russia's Novorossiysk port has damaged grain export facilities and added pressure on Moscow to divert cargo through alternative routes, while Türkiye is propo...

US inflation came in softer than feared, and markets took it as a green light — indices are sitting at or near record highs. We ask Tony Nash what the CPI print actually tells us about where inflation is heading, and whether it's enough to move the Fed. Also on the table: whether investors should be taking profit or letting the winners run, the oil price reaction to reported attacks on ships in th...

Singapore’s three banks, DBS, OCBC and UOB, announced strong second quarter earnings recently, which significantly impacted the movement of Singapore’s stock market . Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Research Singapore & Regional Head of Financials at Maybank Investment Banking Group, talks about if current valuations justify the premiums. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Investors are navigating increasingly divergent signals from the world's major central banks as inflation and interest-rate expectations shift. The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept rates at 4.35% but left the door open to further tightening, while markets are watching fresh US inflation data for clues on whether the Federal Reserve could raise rates again this year. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen i...

US equities have pulled back after reaching record highs, but investors continue to navigate a complicated mix of geopolitical tensions, shifting interest-rate expectations and enthusiasm over artificial intelligence investment. The US-Iran standoff remains a key risk for oil and inflation, while weaker labour market signals have reduced expectations for further Federal Reserve tightening. At the...

After two consecutive months of net selling, foreign investors returned to Bursa Malaysia in July, helping push the FBM KLCI up 3.7% over the month. Imran Yassin Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Research, explores whether this was a genuine shift in sentiment, or just selective buying of Malaysian blue chips when other Asian markets were struggling. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/lis...

US equity markets touched new record highs following a shock contraction in non-farm payroll figures, as investors priced in a more dovish Federal Reserve interest rate trajectory ahead of key CPI inflation data. Kingsley Jones, Chief Investment Officer at Jevons Global, joins BFM’s World Market Watch to navigate these global market signals and what to watch ahead. He breaks down why Wall Street’s...

Following an all-time high near $126,000, Bitcoin has retraced nearly 50% to trade around $64,000. A massive $19 billion liquidation event, triggered by macro trade tensions, escalating geopolitical risks, and capital rotation toward AI equities, has tested market resilience. However, the absence of widespread systemic platform failures highlights a maturing industry compared to past cycles. Zhong...

Despite the S&P 500 recently testing new highs, rising geopolitical risks and persistent inflation expectations are fueling concerns over Federal Reserve rate policy ahead of crucial labor data. At the same time, record US equity ownership, elevated market leverage through ETFs, and surging long-end Treasury yields pose critical headwinds for equity valuations. Tim Mulholland, President of TJM...

Despite resilient US services sector activity, persistent inflationary pressures and a softening labor market point toward growing stagflationary risks. Meanwhile, unprecedented currency joint action by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Japanese authorities has temporarily checked dollar-yen volatility, even as markets grapple with Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s reduced-communication...

Following a brief pull-back, US equities have surged back toward record highs, driven by a dramatic rebound in Big Tech and broadening market participation across transportation, defense, and financials. However, with shifting Federal Reserve communications under Kevin Warsh, persistent debt concerns, and geopolitical risks keeping energy and food prices volatile, investors face a tricky landscape...

After surging over 120% from the start of the year to its peak in June, South Korea’s KOSPI index experienced severe volatility in July, enduring nine separate circuit-breaker halts amid a global pullback in semiconductor stocks. While heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the initial AI-driven rally, the rapid rise of retail-driven single-stock leveraged ETFs amplified the subsequent...

US equities extended their gains following last week's market rebound, but key questions remain over whether the worst of the tech and AI volatility is behind us. Meanwhile in Asia, a 10% pullback in Japan's Nikkei 225 has global investors weighing their entry points. Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist at US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management, joins BFM's Morning Brief to share his global outlo...

China's economy is losing momentum, central banks are weighing their next moves, and geopolitical tensions continue to reshape energy markets. Laurent Lequeu, Independent Market Analyst & Writer at the Macro Butler newsletter joins us to unpack the forces driving the global economy and what investors should watch next. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

The Malaysian tech sector has been riding the global AI wave, with its fortunes closely tied to demand for AI-related products. But the big question is: can this strong spending on AI continue, and will our local tech players keep reaping the rewards? To get some insights, we speak with Lee Meng Horng, Senior Equity Analyst at RHB Investment Bank. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

US GDP and core PCE data landed this week, and markets clawed back ground after the post-FOMC selloff, though sentiment in semiconductor and AI stocks remains fragile. The conversation unpacks what the data says about US inflation and growth, where the Fed goes from here, and why Singapore's Straits Times Index keeps hitting record highs. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Artificial intelligence continues to dominate investor attention especially in Asia. Given the recent volatility in North Asian tech hardware and with China's AI ambitions, where should investors allocate capital next? Will China and Singapore markets continue to outperform? Click here to find out more about CIMB Chief Investment Office. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's technology sector has found a new source of optimism after memory chipmaker CXMT's blockbuster stock market debut reignited interest in the country's AI and semiconductor ambitions. But with global technology stocks facing valuation pressures and China's broader economy still uneven, investors are questioning whether the rally marks the start of a sustained recovery or a burst of speculati...

Investors are navigating a pivotal week for Asian markets, with the Federal Reserve weighing its next move, fresh US tariffs threatening regional trade, and China preparing to signal its economic priorities at the mid-year Politburo meeting. At the same time, leadership uncertainty at Bank Indonesia and a slight tightening by Singapore’s central bank are adding to the policy mix. What do these dev...

World equity markets recovered on the back of three nights of relative lull in the US-Iran war, although concern over AI and tech prospects kept the Nasdaq in negative territory for four straight sessions. Hebe Chen, a senior market analyst at Vantage Market, share her insights along with expectation from central bank rate decisions from the US and Australia. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystu...

Malaysia's automotive sector has continued to outperform expectations, with vehicle sales rising in the first half of the year despite economic uncertainty. National brands remain dominant, but Chinese automakers are rapidly gaining market share while electric and hybrid vehicle adoption continues to accelerate. As the industry heads into the second half of the year, can strong demand withstand po...

Investors are becoming less willing to overlook soaring AI spending by Big Tech, even as companies continue to post strong revenue growth - this is evident from the performance of the Nasdaq recently. Kingsley Jones, Chief Investment Officer at Jevons Global, share his perspectives on this and more. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investors are balancing a resilient US economy against rising geopolitical and policy risks, with higher oil prices, shifting Federal Reserve expectations, and renewed tariff uncertainty all shaping market sentiment. Semiconductor stocks have rebounded after a sharp sell-off, but questions remain over whether the recovery can be sustained. As markets head into a pivotal period, what should investo...