Safe-haven shift: Dollar gains strength while gold falters on inflation fears

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 l…

AI boom, oil's 'peace premium,' and the Fed's sticky inflation dilemma

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 a…

AI, Iran talks lift Asia stocks to record highs; oil, dollar slip

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 new…

Oil's peace-deal plunge lifts Asia tech; Samsung tops $1T market cap

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 …

Mideast truce shakes Wall St. highs: Hormuz hit sends oil, safe-haven dollar soaring

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’…

AI, oil, and yen: Tech-led Asia rallies, but Mideast conflict keeps inflation in focus

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…

AI & oil dictate markets: Tech earnings lift Asia while war shock spurs hawkish central banks

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…

UAE-OPEC split causes oil jump, Iran/AI worries loom ahead of Fed/tech earnings

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…

Oil stalls near highs as BOJ hawkish split underlines Iran war inflation fears

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…

Oil surges, chip stocks climb on AI hopes amid central bank floodgates

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 …