BT Market Focus

Oil at US$90 even after a ceasefire. A dollar no one can replace. Bitcoin cratering while IPOs loom. AI infrastructure costs that could reshape every sector — not just tech. What's really driving markets? Why are central banks frozen? And where is the smart money quietly rotating? Howie Lim finds out from Thomas Rupf of VP Bank. Highlights: 01:05 Energy prices vs. supply security 03:00 The s...

Market news for June 4, 2026: Renewed US-Iran fighting plunged Asian stocks, though a Lebanon-Israel ceasefire eased oil prices. Inflation fears intensified, raising Bank of Japan rate hike chances. Separately, Bitcoin dropped while SpaceX set its landmark IPO price at $135 a share. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market mo...

Market news for June 3, 2026: A protracted US-Iran war and the Hormuz blockade unleashed a global oil shock, fuelling inflation and forcing hawkish central bank moves. Yet, the AI bull run propelled Asian tech stocks to dramatic new record highs, defying the geopolitical risk. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movement...

Market news for June 2, 2026: Asian stocks struggled for direction as a partial Middle East ceasefire steadied oil near $95. AI-linked shares gained on Anthropic's trillion-dollar IPO filing. Blackstone raised a record $13.1B for Asia private equity, while gold rose and cryptocurrencies slid to two-month lows. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks...

Is the energy crisis over? Global stocks hit record highs fueled by AI, while oil tumbles 10 per cent on potential Strait of Hormuz reopening. What about the AI hype versus real growth, the USD's "fairy tale moment," the sustainability of the East Asian rally, and the long-term risks for bonds? Howie Lim gets insights from Oriano Lizza of CMC Markets. Highlights: 01:06 AI hype vs. real growth 04:0...

Market news for May 28, 2026: Iran conflict and US strikes drove Asian stocks lower, challenging peace optimism. Oil rebounded 2 per cent, pressuring inflation and bond yields, while AI-driven chip sales buoyed South Korean exports despite broader market risks. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from...

Market news for May 26, 2026: Oil prices rose today and stocks wavered as investor optimism over an imminent US-Iran peace deal was tempered by new US strikes in the Middle East. Brent futures rose over 2 per cent to over $98 a barrel, while global stocks were mixed as inflation fears persisted. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day&rsqu...

Market news for May 25, 2026: Stocks surged on Iran deal hopes, weakening the dollar and oil, but Strait of Hormuz clarity concerns tempered the rally, underscoring persistent war-driven inflation risks for global markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: H...

The "AI Trade" demands selectivity post-Nvidia: learn the new rules focusing on free cash flow and margins, not just growth. Brent crude's new US$100+ baseline defies temporary peace, fueled by Gulf tensions and hawkish Fed signals. This week, we dive into the dollar's safe-haven supremacy, the Kospi as a global tech bellwether, and the structural debt risks shaking G7 bonds with José Torre...

Market news for May 21, 2026: Asian stocks surged, fuelled by Nvidia's strong forecast and a suspended Samsung strike, easing global risk fears as vessels resumed passage through the Strait of Hormuz, though inflation worries persist. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. W...

Market news for May 20, 2026: The AI rally faces a critical test with Nvidia earnings, overshadowed by escalating Gulf conflict driving oil prices and bond yields higher globally. Geopolitical tension fuels inflation fears, prompting central bank rate hike bets and dampening Asian stocks. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s mar...

Market news for May 19, 2026: AI stocks face a pivotal test with Nvidia's earnings amid Gulf-driven oil and bond yield surges. While Trump's peace bid cooled prices, global inflation fears and looming central bank tightening cast a shadow over markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore...

Market news for May 18, 2026: Asian markets slid on Gulf turmoil, driving oil and bond yields higher, as the AI rally faces a critical test from Nvidia's earnings this week. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Produced and edite...

AI frenzy, rising inflation, and geopolitical shocks: Can the tech rally survive? Chief investment strategist Charu Chanana of Saxo breaks down the Fed's next move, the HALO trade, and the global fallout from a potential Samsung strike and the Trump-Xi summit. Highlights: 01:03 Will the Fed hike rates in 2026? 04:22 AI rally and HALO 07:42 Samsung strike threat 10:18 Trump-Xi summit 13:52 Sectors...

Market news for May 14, 2026: An Asia-wide rally, fuelled by key AI stocks, saw SK Hynix's valuation approach $1 trillion. Meanwhile, gold prices climbed due to a weaker dollar. The Trump-Xi summit holds no major surprises so far, with ongoing concerns over Middle East oil supply continuing to affect markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks a...

Market news for May 13, 2026: Global markets fell as hot US inflation dampened Fed cut hopes and Middle East tensions persisted. Samsung stock rebounded despite a major labor strike threat. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Pr...

Market news for May 12, 2026: Dollar and oil rise on continuing Middle East conflict as peace talks continue to not deliver; Asian currencies suffer and markets eye President Trump’s last ditch effort in China. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie L...

Market news for May 11, 2026: Safe-haven dollar climbed as deadlocked US-Iran talks kept the Strait of Hormuz closed, choking oil supply and lifting prices, while AI stocks provided a modest lift to Asia's markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim...

Is the AI rally a bubble or backed by real earnings? As oil prices spike and the Yen tumbles, we tackle inflation's sticky grip and the future of interest rates. Plus, are South Korea and Taiwan becoming the new undisputed tech leaders? Endowus CIO Hugh Chung joins Howie Lim for a compelling look at the markets' biggest questions this week. Highlights: 01:02 AI hype: rally or bubble? 02:36 Geopoli...

Market news for May 7, 2026: Global stocks pause near highs as investors await US payrolls, while oil stabilises after US-Iran peace hopes drove crude lower this past week. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited...

Market news for May 6, 2026: Oil peace talks boost Asia tech stocks, lifting Samsung to a $1T valuation. Crude and the dollar fall on hopes for a major US-Iran agreement. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited b...

Market news for May 5, 2026: Mideast peace hopes fade after Hormuz explosion, pulling Wall Street back from peak records. The resulting oil price surge on Gulf tensions boosts the safe-haven dollar. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.c...

Market news for May 4, 2026: AI-led Asia shares rallied despite Mideast conflict keeping oil flat and inflation risks high; Japanese yen jumped on intervention alert. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: C...

Market news for April 30, 2026: AI and oil prices dominated markets: strong tech earnings lifted Asian shares, but surging crude and hawkish central banks amplified inflation fears amid rising Mideast tensions. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (ho...

Market news for April 29, 2026: UAE's OPEC exit and Iran/AI worries clouded markets ahead of the Fed and tech earnings, while Brent crude rose on stalled peace talks. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: C...