Latest Stock Market News

A significant uptick in futures open interest signifies a substantial growth in the number of active, unexpired futures contracts in a specific security. This uptrend reflects an increasing number of participants either initiating new positions or expanding the size of their existing positions within the futures market.

Japanese government bonds tumbled on Wednesday, sending benchmark yields to near 17-year highs, as traders priced in increased political risks and a hazy outlook for the central bank s policy normalisation path.

Trump claimed Japan would commit $550 billion in investments to build resilient U.S. supply chains through government-backed loans and guarantees.

Chakri Lokapriya discusses the impact of tariffs on various sectors, including capital markets, wires and cables, pharma, and IT. Retail brokerage margins are expected to decline, while the wires and cables segment hinges on economic revival and tariff clarity. Despite pharma s underperformance, potential buying opportunities exist, and IT sector growth depends on deal conversion and tariff resolution.

Japanese auto stocks surged, leading the Nikkei to a one-year high after a U.S. trade deal reduced import levies to 15%. Toyota soared 14%. Trade clarity bolstered expectations for Bank of Japan rate hikes, pushing JGB yields to levels unseen since 2008.

European stock markets saw gains, especially in the automobile sector. This followed positive signals from US President Donald Trump regarding potential trade agreements with the European Union. The optimism was fueled by a trade deal with Japan. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz stocks performed well. Lonza shares also increased after a profit forecast. However, ASM International and SAP experienced declines.

Shares of Japanese and South Korean automakers surged on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a trade deal with Tokyo that included reducing tariffs on Japanese auto imports to 15%, a move that stoked optimism about a similar agreement for Seoul.

Prateek Agrawal of MOAMC expresses optimism about a potential US-India trade deal, highlighting India s market size as a key negotiating strength. While a deal could boost Indian manufacturing competitiveness, its immediate impact on the stock market may be limited. Agrawal suggests monitoring currency markets and bond yields in the short term, emphasizing the long-term potential for labor-intensive sectors.

For over a month, the market has remained in a narrow range, leading to investor uncertainty. Adding to this are earnings results, which have come in below expectations compared to last quarter, creating a subdued sentiment.