BT Market Focus

Market news for April 28, 2026: Stocks held ground despite the Iran stalemate and big tech earnings test, while hawkish BOJ action on inflation fears from the conflict pushed oil prices to a three-week high. 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 (howie...

Market news for April 27, 2026: Oil climbed on stalled US-Iran talks, boosting inflation fears and crude to three-week highs. Chip stocks rallied amid central bank floodgates and critical tech earnings. 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@s...

Geopolitics, Big Tech, and fragile ceasefires: The bulls took a breather this week. Oil prices jump as Middle East tensions flare, but how much risk premium is actually priced in? As the US Fed holds firm, we delve into what "higher for longer" means for Asia's asset allocation. Plus, the AI race heats up between Apple and Google, and is gold still the ultimate safe haven? Howie Lim speaks to Thom...

Market news for April 23, 2026: Asia’s rally collapsed as Gulf shipping woes spiked oil prices, fuelling inflation fears and driving safe-haven flow into the dollar, while gold fell. 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) Pro...

Market news for April 20, 2026: Strait of Hormuz closure pushed crude past $95, but Asia's stock markets shrugged off risk to near record highs; BI to keep rate unchanged and gold falls. 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) Produ...

Global diplomacy flips Monday's oil panic into a record-high rally. Can AI demand truly decouple from energy shocks? Why did China's stocks ignore a huge GDP beat? Portfolio manager from PhillipCapital Pete Tan breaks down the war-diplomacy ease, the gold retreat, and which Singapore sectors still promise haven in a volatile market. Highlights: 02:35 AI vs. geopolitical risk 04:34 Investor sentime...

Market news for April 16, 2026: Asian equities soared to fresh highs on easing Iran war diplomacy, despite a gold selloff. TSMC's profit surge and China's strong GDP beat expectations, while oil was steady and the dollar dipped on Fed easing hopes. 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...

Market news for April 15, 2026: Asian equities rise on renewed diplomatic hopes, oil extends losses, and gold stabilises, while investors assess Singapore’s first-quarter growth and await US earnings and Federal Reserve signals.   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 t...

Market news for April 14, 2026: Global markets rallied on tentative Middle East peace hopes, driving Asian stocks up and oil/dollar down, despite the US blocking Iranian ports. Singapore’s MAS tightened policy, citing inflation risks from the ongoing energy shock and central banks face rising pressure to hike rates. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times...

Market news for April 13, 2026: A US-imposed blockade on Iranian shipping sent Brent crude surging 7 per cent past $102, escalating war-driven energy shock. Stocks fell, and gold hit a near one-week low as inflation fears prompted traders to scale back Federal Reserve rate cut expectations. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s m...

The guns may have stopped, but the markets haven't. Oil prices have nearly doubled since January. A fragile US-Iran ceasefire has sent stocks rallying — but how long can it last? And what does it mean for your money, especially here in Asia? This week, JP Morgan's Raisah Rasid breaks down the tail risks, the opportunity in Asian markets, and why income is your best defence right now. Highlig...

Market news for April 9, 2026:   Oil prices surged above $96 as Israel's attack on Lebanon cast doubt on the fragile Middle East ceasefire, reminding investors of lingering energy supply risks through the Strait of Hormuz. Asian shares slid, led by declines in South Korea and China, as the inflationary threat re-emerged. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business T...

Market news for April 8, 2026: The two-week Middle East conflict closed with a sudden ceasefire, sending oil and the safe-haven dollar sliding. Stocks and bonds surged on hopes for reopened Hormuz flows. Markets, whipped by volatility, now watch skeptically for lasting peace after the dramatic, energy-driven upheaval. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times tha...

Market news for April 7, 2026: Global stocks wavered as Middle East war risks hiked oil above $110, fuelling stagflation fears and halting Fed rate cut bets. A record Samsung forecast briefly lifted Asia, yet the energy shock and President Trump's deadline kept investors cautious, driving the dollar higher. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at...

Market news for April 6, 2026: Oil and stocks were mixed as President Trump's "hell" threat against Iran's Strait of Hormuz closure clashed with ceasefire reports. Brent crude rose on supply fears despite an OPEC+ output boost. Asia-Pacific shares were mostly positive, while the yen weakened as Middle East tensions escalated. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business T...

Market news for April 2, 2026: Protracted war fears over Iran triggered a global sell-off today. Stocks tumbled, driving oil near $110 per barrel, while the dollar firmed. US President Trump's address offered no exit timeline, leaving investors bracing for prolonged conflict and deepening economic risks ahead of the long weekend. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Busine...

Market news for April 1, 2026: Iran de-escalation hopes fuelled a rally in Asian stocks today, snapping a four-day slide. South Korea's Kospi surged as exports smashed forecasts. Oil pared losses, while the dollar held steady. Investors remain cautiously optimistic as clarity on the Middle East conflict is awaited. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that l...

Market news for March 31, 2026: Energy crisis grips Asia as Mideast war drives oil to record highs and fears of inflation and recession mount. Asian shares plunged to their steepest fall since 2022, bonds declined, while the dollar surged as a safe haven. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singap...

Market news for March 30, 2026: Stock markets slid as a protracted Gulf conflict drove oil prices to a record monthly rise, fuelling a global inflation spike and raising recession risks. Asia, heavily dependent on Middle East energy, suffered significant losses. Brent crude soared almost 59 per cent for the month. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that lo...

Global conflict. Closed shipping lanes. Oil surged, gold stumbled. As the Middle East crisis whipsaws markets, where is the mispricing? Syfe's Ritesh Ganeriwal joins Howie Lim to dissect Asia’s structural energy shock, the dollar’s safe haven reign, and the disruptive forces reshaping portfolio strategy this quarter end. Highlights: 01:16 Mispriced assets thanks to the conflict 03:44 G...

Market news for March 26, 2026: Mideast turmoil sees Asian stocks slide, oil spike 2 per cent on Strait of Hormuz closure fears, while gold reverses course for its steepest monthly drop since 2008, defying safe-haven status. 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:...

Market news for March 25, 2026: Stocks rise and oil retreats on possible ceasefire, driven by reports of a US 15-point peace plan for Iran. Crude prices slide 5 per cent while Asian markets recoup some losses, yet investor caution remains high. 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...

Market news for March 24, 2026: Stocks were volatile and oil rose as the Middle East conflict raged, while Japan's low inflation complicated BOJ rate hike efforts, and a firm US dollar pressured gold. 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...

Market news for March 23, 2026: Inflation fears mounted as global stocks and bonds plunged, while US bond yields hit eight-month peaks. Escalating Middle East war threats drove oil volatility and lifted the dollar amid a scramble for safe-haven assets. 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...

Oil shock, rate repricing, and a hawkish dilemma. The Middle East conflict has thrown global markets into turmoil, sparking rate hike speculation even as G4 central banks hold steady. Will the 'transitory' argument survive soaring crude prices? What’s up with the firm dollar, bullish gold, and stagflation fears being premature.? Howie Lim speaks to Ray Heung from Standard Chartered Bank to f...