Tokyo Opens Lower as Nikkei Slips, Kospi Surges on a Risk-On Commodity and FX Mix
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific trading opened with a sharp split: South Korea’s Kospi surged +8.3% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell -1.2% and Australia’s ASX 200 dropped -1.5%. WTI crude climbed +3.9%, gold edged higher, and the yen weakened slightly against the dollar, a mix that points to a market still balancing geopolitical energy risk, rate pressure, and sector rotation. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 19 Aug 2026 01:15 LONDON
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Day News Recap: Iran escalates as Ukraine, Gaza and regional tensions deepen across multiple fronts
Iran said it would move to a fully offensive military posture as efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire with the United States stalled, while Tehran also declared the 60 day negotiation deadline under a June memorandum void and warned that passage through the Strait of Hormuz would remain shut. A ship was hit in the waterway, adding to the pressure around one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes. 🔗 🔗 🔗In the wider Middle East, the United States condemned an Israeli strike on the Abu al Duhur air base in north west Syria as an unnecessary escalation, and UN... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 18 Aug 2026 18:21 LONDON
Breakfast News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Gaza talks stall and markets turn defensive
Iran has warned it will move to a fully offensive military posture as efforts to secure a permanent end to the war with the United States stall, while a separate report said a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, with one crew member reported dead or injured. 🔗 🔗In Gaza, talks linked to Jared Kushner’s peace plan ended without a breakthrough, even as Israel and the United States agreed that an American general would verify Hamas disarmament before any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. 🔗 🔗Across the wider region, UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 18 Aug 2026 08:41 LONDON
Tokyo Close: Kospi Surges Nearly 9% as Oil and Gold Jump, Nikkei Edges Lower, ASX 200 Slips
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific trading ended with a sharp split, led by a powerful rally in South Korea’s Kospi, which jumped +8.97% to 6865.02. WTI crude climbed +5.22%, gold rose +2.01%, and platinum gained +2.38%, while Australia’s ASX 200 fell -1.95% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped -0.09%. The move set points to a market still reacting to higher energy prices, firmer precious metals, and a softer tone in parts of regional equities. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 18 Aug 2026 07:45 LONDON
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Tokyo Opens Higher as Nikkei Extends Record Run, Kospi Surges and Risk Assets Reprice Across Asia-Pacific
Executive summary: Tokyo opened with a strong bid, led by a fresh jump in the Nikkei 225 and a firmer Nikkei ETF, while South Korea’s Kospi posted an outsized surge. The session also showed a split tape across the region, with Hong Kong and Australia lower, crude and gold higher, and the yen slightly weaker against the dollar. The move matters because it combines a powerful equity rally in Japan and Korea with a commodity-led inflation signal that could keep pressure on regional risk sentiment. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 18 Aug 2026 01:15 LONDON
Day News Recap: Deadly crises span Congo, Indonesia and Gaza as markets split on risk appetite
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with government data putting deaths at 2,325 as the crisis continues to spread its toll. 🔗Indonesia is also facing a major disaster after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores island, killing at least 68 people, displacing about 5,000 residents and leaving aid shortages and aftershocks to hamper rescue work. 🔗In the Middle East, the Gaza war and wider regional tensions remained in focus as Jared Kushner prepared to meet Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv after more than two hours of talks with... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 17 Aug 2026 18:20 LONDON
Breakfast News Recap: Earthquake toll climbs in Indonesia as Gaza, Ukraine and EU tensions deepen
Rescuers in eastern Indonesia are still searching collapsed buildings after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake on Flores island killed at least 53 people, while more than 12,000 displaced residents were still waiting for urgent aid. Officials said the death toll could rise as teams reach cut off areas and assess the scale of the damage. 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, Jared Kushner is due to meet Benjamin Netanyahu after holding rare talks with Hamas linked figures in Egypt, in a renewed push to advance a Gaza deal. At the same time, Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has been reported... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 17 Aug 2026 08:36 LONDON
Tokyo closes mixed as Nikkei surges past 69,000, Kospi jumps 11.5% and commodities split on risk appetite
Executive summary: Tokyo and Asia-Pacific trading ended with a sharp divergence in risk assets and commodities. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and its ETF proxy extended a powerful rally, South Korea’s Kospi posted an outsized surge, while Hong Kong and Australia finished lower. In commodities, gold held firm near record territory, but WTI crude, natural gas and palladium weakened, signaling a market still balancing growth optimism, inflation hedging and energy-specific pressure. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 17 Aug 2026 07:45 LONDON
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