BT Market Focus

Market news for March 19, 2026: Stocks slid and oil prices rose sharply today after a major escalation in the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran rattled investors, fuelling stagflation fears as central banks worldwide grapple with surging energy costs. 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 an...

Market news for March 18, 2026: Asian shares rallied as oil prices eased on an Iraq-Turkey deal, shifting focus to the Fed's balance of growth and inflation risks amid escalating Middle East conflict and Iran's defiant strikes. 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...

Market news for March 17, 2026: Stocks climbed on rate hopes despite Middle East conflict, led by Asia-Pacific gains. Australia hiked rates amid sticky inflation, setting a cautious tone for major central banks weighing the Iran war's impact. 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 r...

Market news for March 16, 2026: Asian markets were wary as Gulf tensions kept oil high, complicating inflation outlooks and leading central banks to pause or, in one case, hike rates. 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...

Oil shock stalls stocks—but is this market panic justified? As crude prices soar towards $100, the narrative of a massive sell-off should be challenged. Howie Lim speaks to Steve Sosnick from Interactive Brokers to discover why the historical context of Middle East conflicts suggests a quick rebound, what a closure of the Strait of Hormuz really models for crude and equities, and the hidden...

Market news for March 12, 2026: Global shares fell as escalating Middle East conflict drove oil past $100, fuelling inflation fears and triggering a worldwide spike in borrowing costs despite a record IEA reserve release plan. 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 b...

Market news for March 11, 2026: Shares stabilise as oil dips on IEA release proposal, but diesel's surge and Mideast conflict fuel inflation fears, complicating central bank rate paths. 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) Produc...

Market news for March 10, 2026: Middle East war hopes whipsawed markets; stocks rallied on US comments before Iran's defiance pared gains. Oil plunged, while safe-haven gold held steady. 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...

Market news for March 9, 2026: War chaos spiked stock losses across Asia, as soaring oil prices threatened global inflation and interest rates, while the US dollar gained from a rush for liquidity, and gold plunged. 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 Li...

Middle East conflict jolts oil prices and sparks stagflation fears. As the safe-haven dollar surges, is gold losing its lustre? JP Morgan’s global market strategist Raisah Rasid breaks down the geopolitics vs. economics debate, reveals Asia's tech winners in the AI race, and decodes China's new 5-year plan. Highlights: 01:10 Impact of Middle East conflict 05:59 Impact of conflict on Asia 09:...

Market news for March 5, 2026: Asian shares rallied as tentative risk appetite returned post-Mideast war fears; China unveiled new economic targets; oil and gold prices surged on energy supply concerns. 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...

Market news for March 4, 2026: Seoul's stocks plunged 12 per cent in a record crash on widening Middle East war fears, driving an energy shock that threatens inflation, delays rate cuts, and weakens the Singapore 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: How...

Market news for March 3, 2026: A global sell-off deepened as US/Israel strikes on Iran fuelled oil and dollar gains, plunging Asian stocks, with Korean shares hit hardest. Singapore's ST Engineering rallied on defence orders. 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 2, 2026: Oil spiked on Hormuz attacks amidst escalating US-Iran conflict; airline stocks plunged on airspace disruption fears; energy shares rallied. 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...

Is AI euphoria heading for a crash? As tech stocks reel and Wall Street fears 'software-mageddon,' we ask if Nvidia's results calm the nerves. Plus, Asia’s chip rally, Japan’s spending risks, and why one analyst sees gold rocketing to US$6,300. Market Focus meets market reality with Oriano Lizza from CMC Markets. Highlights: 01:16 AI fears & software sell-off 04:18 Asia's independe...

Market news for February 26, 2026: Nvidia's AI surge drove Asian stocks to highs, easing tech fears, while Singapore's factory output jumped. Yen remained soft amid Japan's murky rate outlook. 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)...

Market news for February 25, 2026: Asia's markets soared, led by tech stocks on AI bets; Japan's Nikkei and Korea's KOSPI hit records; Yen remains in focus and oil and gold rise. 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...

Market news for February 24, 2026: Asian markets closed mixed as Wall Street jitters, tariffs and geopolitics weighed. Gold slipped, oil edged up, Singapore blue chips 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: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg ) Produced...

Market news for February 23, 2026: Confusion over new US tariffs revives 'sell America' trade; sliding Wall Street futures and Dollar; tech-diva Nvidia prepares to release earnings; gold rises and oil eases. 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...

Stocks fall, the dollar soars and oil prices climb amid global tensions. Howie Lim and Hugh Chung from Endowus dissect the complex market landscape, from AI stock turbulence and Fed policy splits to dollar debasement and geopolitical risks. Highlights: 01:15 Fed rate expectations hold steady 03:12 Tech earnings reveal winners 04:40 Commodity volatility 11:00 Asian equity opportunities --- Send us...

Market news for February 19, 2026: Asian stocks rose, supported by tech gains and safe-haven flows; Indonesia held rates, focusing on the rupiah; US-Iran tensions supported oil prices and the Fed signaled no rush to cut rates. 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 b...

Why is Wall Street sinking while Singapore soars past 5,000? Howie Lim and  portfolio manager Gary Tan dissect the US job shock, the mystery of 'meme' gold, and the volatility of the AI-driven tech rout. Plus, uncover the finer details of Singapore's forward-looking Budget 2026 and what it means for your portfolio. Highlights: 01:05 Dissecting US economic data so far 03:09 Gold trading like a...

Market news for February 12, 2026: Asian stocks hit a new record high led by tech; yen surged on Takaichi's win; Singapore's STI cleared 5000; oil prices extended gains. 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...

Market news for February 11, 2026: Yen surges on Takaichi's election win; Aussie dollar hits three-year high; US dollar wobbles before key jobs data. 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: Chai Pei Chi...

Market news for February 10, 2026: Global stocks advanced, led by Japan's rally post-election win; Yen and US dollar fall. Gold and Brent crude dip ahead of key US economic data 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.s...