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Money & Markets
Analysis of capital flows, investment trends, and financial market positioning.
Stocks
The Iran Deal Just Triggered the Biggest Single-Day Asian Market Surge in Years. Here Is What Happened.
When US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on June 15 that the deal with Iran was complete and that the Strait of Hormuz would open, global markets responded immediately and dramatically. Asian markets, which had borne the heaviest direct exposure to the four-month Strait closure, led the
Investments
Copper Is 21% Higher Than a Year Ago. The Iran Deal Did Not Change the Structural Story.
Copper closed at $6.14 per pound on June 26, 2026, up 21.23% from a year earlier according to Trading Economics data. Over the past month, the price has softened 2.63% as hawkish Federal Reserve expectations, and a stronger US dollar created headwinds for dollar-priced commodities. But
Personal Finance
GCC Households Watched Food Prices Jump 40% to 120% in Three Months. The Deal Changes That. But Not Immediately.
When Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, 2026, it did not just disrupt oil markets. It directly threatened the food supply of the countries that depend on the Strait for their imports. Gulf Cooperation Council states rely on the Strait for over 80% of their caloric intake.
Investments
Gold Is 16% Below Its All-Time High Even After Months of War. Here Is Why Investors Are Reassessing.
Gold hit its all-time closing high in January 2026, rising sharply on expectations of Middle East escalation and safe haven demand. Then the Iran war actually started, the Strait of Hormuz closed, and gold did not break out. It failed to sustain momentum above $5,200 per ounce even
Stocks
India Market Offers Value Despite Oil Sensitivity Concerns
India's equity markets are attracting selective investor interest this week despite acknowledged vulnerability to global energy prices. While the market is currently neutral on India due to its sensitivity to oil prices, select consumer stocks are favored as the broader economy demonstrates resilience. This nuanced view reflects India&
Personal Finance
Brazilian Real Weakens as Central Bank Pauses Rate Easing Cycle
The Brazilian real hit 5.19 per US dollar this week, marking its weakest level in two months as market dynamics shifted unexpectedly. The currency weakness reflects changing monetary policy expectations as broad dollar strength prevails amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with concerns intensifying after a US helicopter
Stocks
Indonesia Banking Sector Shows Volatility Amid Valuations Adjustment
The Indonesian stock market experienced significant swings this week as investors recalibrated valuations across the banking sector. Bank Rakyat Indonesia saw analyst price targets trimmed from IDR 3,000 to IDR 2,828 per share, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, and future valuation multiples. This recalibration reflects
Stocks
South Korea Chip Exports Surge on Global AI Memory Boom
The memory chip sector in South Korea is experiencing explosive growth this week as global demand for AI infrastructure accelerates. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which represent over 45% of South Korea's equity market index as of June 2026, are capturing unprecedented investor inflows driven by AI-related
Investments
Chile's Stock Market Hit an All Time High the Day a New President Took Office. Copper Explains Why.
Chile's IPSA stock index hit an all-time high of 11,721 points on the day President Jose Antonio Kast was inaugurated, a striking signal from markets about expectations for the country's new pro investment direction. Understanding why requires understanding copper, which still accounts for roughly
Personal Finance
The Philippine Peso Just Hit Its Worst Level Ever. Remittances Hit a Record High the Same Week.
In March 2026, the Philippine peso closed at its worst level in history, P59.87 to the US dollar, with an intraday low of P59.95. The same week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas released data showing cash remittances from overseas Filipino workers reached an all-time high for 2025,
Investments
Saudi Arabia Just Opened Its Stock Market to Everyone. $10 Billion Could Follow.
For decades, investing directly in Saudi Arabia's stock market was reserved for the world's largest financial institutions. As of February 1, 2026, that changed completely. The Capital Market Authority eliminated the Qualified Foreign Investor framework entirely, opening the Tadawul, Saudi Arabia's stock exchange, to