Business & Markets
Asian stocks rise as US data ease Fed rate fears
Most Asian stocks rose Friday after a record day on Wall Street, as softer US inflation and jobs data reduced expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month.
Investors were pricing in a less than 40% chance of a September rate rise, down from 50% the previous week, after July producer inflation slowed. Earlier data had also shown consumer inflation easing, while a jobs report last Friday showed 23,000 positions were lost in July.
Seoul rose more than 2%, helped by gains in chipmakers SK hynix and Samsung after a recent selloff. Tokyo closed up 0.6%, with gains for technology firms including Kioxia, Advantest, Sony and SoftBank. Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila and Wellington also rose, while Shanghai was little changed. Hong Kong, Sydney, Taipei and Mumbai fell.
In Europe, London fell 0.1% in early trading, Paris was flat and Frankfurt rose.
Stephen Innes, global strategist at Quintex Intel, said recent US data had shifted market expectations away from another near-term Fed increase. But Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said Thursday that she still thought borrowing costs needed to rise, saying she did not yet have confidence that inflation would return to the Fed's 2% target.
Oil prices rose as investors watched tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Around 0810 GMT, West Texas Intermediate was up 1.9% at $82.78 a barrel and Brent crude was up 1.6% at $88.42.
The UAE foreign ministry denounced what it called a “hostile Iranian attack” on two vessels affiliated with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened Thursday to subject Tehran to economic isolation and said new measures were expected next week.
Update
Updated closing and early European market figures around 0810 GMT.
West Texas Intermediate was up 1.9% at $82.78 and Brent was up 1.6% at $88.42.
The UAE foreign ministry accused Iran of attacking two vessels affiliated with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 08:22:01 UTC.
Update
Most Asian stocks rose Friday after a record day on Wall Street.
Investors were pricing in a less than 40% chance of a September Federal Reserve rate rise, compared with 50% the previous week.
Seoul rose more than 2%, while Tokyo gained 0.6% at the close.
Hong Kong, Sydney, Taipei and Mumbai fell, while several other Asian markets rose.
West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude both rose about 1% around 0715 GMT after dropping more than 2% on Thursday.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened new economic measures against Iran next week.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 07:32:13 UTC.
Update
By around 1600 GMT, Wall Street had eased from opening gains, with the Dow down 0.2%, the S&P 500 up 0.4% and the Nasdaq up 0.5%.
European markets closed broadly lower, including London down 0.6%, Paris down 0.3% and Frankfurt down 0.1%.
Oil prices were lower but by less than earlier in the session, with Brent down 0.9% at $88.16 and West Texas Intermediate down 0.8% at $82.45.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 16:12:29 UTC.
Update
The US Labor Department said producer prices rose 4.7% in July, down from June.
Wall Street indexes rose at the open and were near record highs around 1400 GMT.
Oil declines had widened to about 3% by around 1400 GMT.
Stephen Brown of Capital Economics said a September US interest-rate increase was looking unlikely.
Patrick Munnelly of Tickmill Group warned that resilient demand could make a later inflation scare harder to dismiss.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 14:26:07 UTC.
Update
European stocks mostly rose on Thursday, while London fell as mining shares retreated.
Oil prices were down more than 2% around 1045 GMT.
Antofagasta downgraded its production outlook, weighing on London mining shares.
UK economic growth slowed from the first quarter but remained resilient in the second quarter, according to official data.
A senior Iranian official said the Strait of Hormuz remained under Iranian control after President Donald Trump claimed US control over the waterway.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 11:23:41 UTC.
Update
Oil prices were down 1.4% around 0810 GMT after six days of gains, with WTI at $82.08 a barrel and Brent at $87.78.
A 10-year US Treasury auction produced the highest yield since 2007.
London was lower in morning trading while Frankfurt and Paris rose.
Hong Kong and Shanghai closed lower after afternoon selling, while Tokyo closed up 1.2%.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 08:16:29 UTC.
Update
Seoul's Kospi was up 3.6% later Thursday, led by SK hynix and Samsung.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 closed up 1.2% at 68,308.59.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney were lower after afternoon selling weighed on markets.
London opened lower while Frankfurt and Paris rose.
Oil prices were slightly lower around 0715 GMT after six days of gains.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 07:33:09 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The Federal Reserve's September interest-rate decision remains uncertain.
The timing and terms of any deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain unclear.
Source
AFP news report published on .