- Barry Adams
- 13 Jul, 2026
- New York City
Stocks on Wall Street traded down on Monday amid growing uncertainty in the Middle East and lingering concern about the stretched valuations of the AI-related stocks.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.9% following another day of sell-off in memory stocks.
SK Hynix dropped as much as 9% in early trading following South Korean chipmakers' U.S. debut on Friday, when it soared 13%.
Investors are increasingly questioning the recent run in stock prices of AI-linked stocks and whether the demand boom for memory modules justifies the current rally.
While AI spending by hyperscalers remains enormous, questions on the scale of investment, lagging returns, and financing costs have begun to weigh on the entire sector.
Memory makers are certainly hoping that the latest business cycle is likely to extend several more years by locking customers into longer-term contracts.
However, the circular financing is likely to weigh on chipmakers' earnings in 2027 and beyond, and investors are wondering if all of the future growth is already reflected in current valuations.
Crude oil prices increased 3.5% to $73.65 a barrel as the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire over the Strait of Hormuz. The sharp escalation in fighting over the weekend supported the worry that energy-product supply disruption is likely to last longer than previously estimated.
Later in the week, investors are awaiting the release of earnings from major banks and brokerage houses—including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs.
Johnson & Johnson, Netflix, and UnitedHealth are scheduled to release their quarterly updates.
About 27 S&P 500 companies are scheduled to release their quarterly results later this week.
On the economic front this week, investors are awaiting the release of inflation and consumer sentiment and comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh.
- Barry Adams
- 13 Jul, 2026
- New York City
Stocks on Wall Street traded down on Monday amid growing uncertainty in the Middle East and lingering concern about the stretched valuations of the AI-related stocks.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.9% following another day of sell-off in memory stocks.
SK Hynix dropped as much as 9% in early trading following South Korean chipmakers' U.S. debut on Friday, when it soared 13%.
Investors are increasingly questioning the recent run in stock prices of AI-linked stocks and whether the demand boom for memory modules justifies the current rally.
While AI spending by hyperscalers remains enormous, questions on the scale of investment, lagging returns, and financing costs have begun to weigh on the entire sector.
Memory makers are certainly hoping that the latest business cycle is likely to extend several more years by locking customers into longer-term contracts.
However, the circular financing is likely to weigh on chipmakers' earnings in 2027 and beyond, and investors are wondering if all of the future growth is already reflected in current valuations.
Crude oil prices increased 3.5% to $73.65 a barrel as the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire over the Strait of Hormuz. The sharp escalation in fighting over the weekend supported the worry that energy-product supply disruption is likely to last longer than previously estimated.
Later in the week, investors are awaiting the release of earnings from major banks and brokerage houses—including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs.
Johnson & Johnson, Netflix, and UnitedHealth are scheduled to release their quarterly updates.
About 27 S&P 500 companies are scheduled to release their quarterly results later this week.
On the economic front this week, investors are awaiting the release of inflation and consumer sentiment and comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh.
- Akira Ito
- 10 Jul, 2026
- Tokyo
Japan's indexes rebounded on Friday and trimmed weekly losses, driven by buoyant investor sentiment towards technology- and semiconductor-related stocks.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained nearly 2%, the broader TOPIX advanced 0.8%, and the yen strengthened to 161.63 against the U.S. dollar.
The easing of crude oil prices also supported the market rally, helping curb inflation concerns and lowering pressure on Japan's energy import-dependent economy.
The yield on Japan's benchmark 10-year government bond edged lower to 2.79%, after briefly surpassing 2.9%
Japan's Producer Price Inflation Accelerated to 3-Year High In June
However, Japan's producer prices accelerated to their fastest pace in more than three years, confirming persistent cost pressures linked to the Middle East conflict and disruptions of supply chains in the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan's producer price inflation accelerated to an annual pace of 7.1% in June from the upwardly revised 6.6% in the previous month, according to the Bank of Japan.
The wholesale inflation measure rose at the fastest pace since March 2023, driven by persistent higher fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East and lingering supply chain disruptions.
The persistent increase in oil and derivative products is seeping into wider sectors of the economy as the imported-oil-dependent Japan scrambles to seek alternative sources amid higher shipping costs.
The price increases initially visible among products directly linked to crude oil are starting to spread to consumer goods, a Bank of Japan official said.
Inflation for petroleum and coal accelerated to 22.8% from 13.7%, chemicals advanced to 14.4% from 14.3%, and information and communications advanced to 14.5% from 13.7% in the previous month, respectively.
Overall, import prices jumped 29.7% from a year ago, the largest pace of annual increase since the gain of 42.3% in October 2022, supported by a weaker yen.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 1.9% to 69,056.76, and the broader TOPIX advanced 0.8% to 4,051.27.
Technology stocks led gainers in Friday's trading in Tokyo.
Kioxia Holdings jumped 2.1% to ¥79,510.0, Murata Manufacturing advanced 4% to ¥9,848.0, Tokyo Electron added 3.1% to ¥73,250.0, and Advantest Corp. increased 3.2% to ¥30,120.0.
- Akira Ito
- 10 Jul, 2026
- Tokyo
Japan's indexes rebounded on Friday and trimmed weekly losses, driven by buoyant investor sentiment towards technology- and semiconductor-related stocks.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained nearly 2%, the broader TOPIX advanced 0.8%, and the yen strengthened to 161.63 against the U.S. dollar.
The easing of crude oil prices also supported the market rally, helping curb inflation concerns and lowering pressure on Japan's energy import-dependent economy.
The yield on Japan's benchmark 10-year government bond edged lower to 2.79%, after briefly surpassing 2.9%
Japan's Producer Price Inflation Accelerated to 3-Year High In June
However, Japan's producer prices accelerated to their fastest pace in more than three years, confirming persistent cost pressures linked to the Middle East conflict and disruptions of supply chains in the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan's producer price inflation accelerated to an annual pace of 7.1% in June from the upwardly revised 6.6% in the previous month, according to the Bank of Japan.
The wholesale inflation measure rose at the fastest pace since March 2023, driven by persistent higher fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East and lingering supply chain disruptions.
The persistent increase in oil and derivative products is seeping into wider sectors of the economy as the imported-oil-dependent Japan scrambles to seek alternative sources amid higher shipping costs.
The price increases initially visible among products directly linked to crude oil are starting to spread to consumer goods, a Bank of Japan official said.
Inflation for petroleum and coal accelerated to 22.8% from 13.7%, chemicals advanced to 14.4% from 14.3%, and information and communications advanced to 14.5% from 13.7% in the previous month, respectively.
Overall, import prices jumped 29.7% from a year ago, the largest pace of annual increase since the gain of 42.3% in October 2022, supported by a weaker yen.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 1.9% to 69,056.76, and the broader TOPIX advanced 0.8% to 4,051.27.
Technology stocks led gainers in Friday's trading in Tokyo.
Kioxia Holdings jumped 2.1% to ¥79,510.0, Murata Manufacturing advanced 4% to ¥9,848.0, Tokyo Electron added 3.1% to ¥73,250.0, and Advantest Corp. increased 3.2% to ¥30,120.0.
- Li Chen
- 10 Jul, 2026
- Hong Kong
China's indexes advanced on Friday as investors searched for bargains in the recently beaten-down semiconductor- and AI-linked stocks.
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.8%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index gained 0.5% as investors awaited the release of a barrage of key economic data next week.
China's statistical bureau is set to release monthly updates on international trade, retail sales, industrial production, second-quarter GDP growth, and the urban jobless rate.
Market sentiment recovered towards the semiconductor-related stocks following the strong demand for the U.S. public offering of South Korea's SK Hynix, one of the three leading memory companies in the world.
ChangXin Memory Technologies, or CXMT, set July 16 as its subscription date for the listing of its share on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
The Anhui-based DRAM maker is set to raise as much as 29.5 billion yuan, or $4.3 billion, and the company plans to sell 6.7 billion new shares, representing 10% of its enlarged share capital.
The global DRAM market remains highly concentrated, and Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix account for 90% of the global market in 2025.
CXMT holds 7.7% of the global market in the final quarter of 2025, according to the company's prospectus quoting Omdia data.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.8% to 24,455.57, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index advanced 0.5% to 4,900.20.
For the week, the Hang Seng Index soared 4.5%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index advanced 0.7%.
Hygon International gained 3.3%, NAURA Technology decreased 0.9%, Eoptolink Technology advanced 1.3%, and SMIC jumped 3.9%.
- Li Chen
- 10 Jul, 2026
- Hong Kong
China's indexes advanced on Friday as investors searched for bargains in the recently beaten-down semiconductor- and AI-linked stocks.
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.8%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index gained 0.5% as investors awaited the release of a barrage of key economic data next week.
China's statistical bureau is set to release monthly updates on international trade, retail sales, industrial production, second-quarter GDP growth, and the urban jobless rate.
Market sentiment recovered towards the semiconductor-related stocks following the strong demand for the U.S. public offering of South Korea's SK Hynix, one of the three leading memory companies in the world.
ChangXin Memory Technologies, or CXMT, set July 16 as its subscription date for the listing of its share on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
The Anhui-based DRAM maker is set to raise as much as 29.5 billion yuan, or $4.3 billion, and the company plans to sell 6.7 billion new shares, representing 10% of its enlarged share capital.
The global DRAM market remains highly concentrated, and Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix account for 90% of the global market in 2025.
CXMT holds 7.7% of the global market in the final quarter of 2025, according to the company's prospectus quoting Omdia data.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.8% to 24,455.57, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index advanced 0.5% to 4,900.20.
For the week, the Hang Seng Index soared 4.5%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index advanced 0.7%.
Hygon International gained 3.3%, NAURA Technology decreased 0.9%, Eoptolink Technology advanced 1.3%, and SMIC jumped 3.9%.
- Barry Adams
- 09 Jul, 2026
- New York City
In early trading, stocks in New York traded mixed, and bond yields edged higher amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 Index increased 0.1%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite edged down a fraction as investors debated future rate outlook.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices edged up 0.9% to $74.21 a barrel, and the Brent crude oil price increased 0.95% to $78.74 a barrel after the U.S. and Iran continued their bombing campaigns.
Iran struck the U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, and the U.S. CENTCOM conducted its second wave of strikes targeting 90 military installations along the coast of Iran.
Despite the surge in crude oil prices, market averages in Japan and South Korea halted their two-day slide amid a recovery in tech stocks following the strong interest in the U.S. listing of SK Hynix.
The South Korean company's U.S. listing on Friday oversubscribed by seven times, according to a Reuters report.
U.S. Movers
Levi Strauss declined 4.4% to $23.32 despite the denim maker reporting better-than-expected revenue and earnings in the fiscal second quarter and raising its guidance and dividend.
Revenue in the quarter ending in May increased to $1.6 billion from $1.4 billion, net income advanced to $87.3 million from $67.0 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to 22 cents from 17 cents a year ago.
The company revised its net revenue growth range estimate higher to between 7.0% and 7.5% from the previous range between 5.5% and 6.5%.
The company revised adjusted diluted earnings per share to a range between $1.46 and $1.52 from the previous estimate between $1.42 and $1.58.
Levi Strauss hiked its quarterly cash dividend by 14% to 16 cents per share, payable on August 5 to shareholders on record on July 22.
- Barry Adams
- 09 Jul, 2026
- New York City
In early trading, stocks in New York traded mixed, and bond yields edged higher amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 Index increased 0.1%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite edged down a fraction as investors debated future rate outlook.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices edged up 0.9% to $74.21 a barrel, and the Brent crude oil price increased 0.95% to $78.74 a barrel after the U.S. and Iran continued their bombing campaigns.
Iran struck the U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, and the U.S. CENTCOM conducted its second wave of strikes targeting 90 military installations along the coast of Iran.
Despite the surge in crude oil prices, market averages in Japan and South Korea halted their two-day slide amid a recovery in tech stocks following the strong interest in the U.S. listing of SK Hynix.
The South Korean company's U.S. listing on Friday oversubscribed by seven times, according to a Reuters report.
U.S. Movers
Levi Strauss declined 4.4% to $23.32 despite the denim maker reporting better-than-expected revenue and earnings in the fiscal second quarter and raising its guidance and dividend.
Revenue in the quarter ending in May increased to $1.6 billion from $1.4 billion, net income advanced to $87.3 million from $67.0 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to 22 cents from 17 cents a year ago.
The company revised its net revenue growth range estimate higher to between 7.0% and 7.5% from the previous range between 5.5% and 6.5%.
The company revised adjusted diluted earnings per share to a range between $1.46 and $1.52 from the previous estimate between $1.42 and $1.58.
Levi Strauss hiked its quarterly cash dividend by 14% to 16 cents per share, payable on August 5 to shareholders on record on July 22.
- Akira Ito
- 09 Jul, 2026
- Tokyo
Japan's indexes rebounded on Thursday and halted a two-day slide amid a rebound in tech stocks.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 1.6%, the broader TOPIX increased 0.3%, and the yen weakened to 162.38 against the U.S. dollar.
Japan's stocks responded positively to a rebound in memory and chipmakers during overnight trading, following the oversubscription of SK Hynix's U.S. IPO by seven times, which underscored the sustained demand for AI infrastructure-linked stocks.
Investors also reviewed the latest minutes of the U.S. Fed's policy meeting held on June 16-17, and policymakers remained divided over the interest rate outlook.
Overall inflation has hovered above the Fed's target rate of 2% for more than five years, and the latest bout of inflation is rooted in the Middle East conflict, which some policymakers viewed as transitory.
However, many policymakers worried that the surge in artificial intelligence infrastructure would keep inflation elevated by lifting prices for advanced chips and other electronic goods.
Most Fed watchers and market analysts are anticipating the Federal Reserve to raise the key lending rate by 25 basis points before the year's end and after the midterm elections.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 1.6% to 67,889.07, and the broader TOPIX rose 0.3% to 4,018.08.
Kioxia Holdings soared 6.6% to ¥76,590.0 after strong interest in the U.S. listing of South Korea's SK Hynix supported demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure providers.
Bain Capital sold its entire stake in the memory maker after steadily trimming its holdings over the last eighteen months, said managing partner David Gross, according to Bloomberg.
Bain led the memory-makers' $18 billion buyout in 2018, and Kioxia was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on December 18, 2024.
Kioxia Holdings listed its stock at a price of 1,455 per share and raised 120 billion yen, or $800 million.