Trading Economics-


The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.3% to close at 66,016 on Friday, giving back some gains from the previous session as global bond yields rebounded amid concerns that US efforts to curb borrowing costs through debt buybacks may provide only a temporary solution. The 10-year US Treasury yield traded around 4.7%, erasing its losses from earlier in the week, while Japan’s benchmark 10-year yield ended a two-day decline. Meanwhile, data showed Japan’s inflation rate accelerated for the second consecutive month, strengthening the case for a Bank of Japan interest rate hike in the near term. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda previously indicated that authorities could begin normalizing policy at a faster pace. Technology stocks led the declines, with notable losses from Fujikura (-1.1%), Taiyo Yuden (-3.4%) and SoftBank Group (-2.5%). The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 3.93% for the week, breaking a two-week winning streak.

Trading Economics-


Australian equities inched lower around midday on Friday, hovering around 9,071 after closing modestly higher in the prior session, heading for the second straight weekly decline. A sharp drop on Wall Street overnight weighed on sentiment as long-dated U.S. Treasury yields resumed their march higher, after the government's moves to stem the recent bond market rout failed to ease investor fears about inflation. Locally, private sector activity slowed in August, with the flash Composite PMI slipping from July's 6-month high amid a decline in manufacturing output. Caution also grew ahead of July inflation readings next week. Meanwhile, employment unexpectedly fell in July, pushing the jobless rate to a three-month high. Tech, healthcare, and commercial services weighed though gains in energy minerals, utilities, and communications capped the downside. Steep losses were seen for Charter Hall (-6.3%), Pro Medicus (-3.3%), Wisetech Global (-2.9%), and Lynas Rare Earths (-2.2%).

Trading Economics-


The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.88% to close at 6,913 on Friday, extending gains from the previous session, as strength in major chipmakers and robust semiconductor exports supported investor sentiment. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix climbed 3.87% and 2.19%, respectively, amid continued expectations of shareholder returns. Strong semiconductor exports provided further support, with chip shipments nearly tripling to $26 billion in the first 20 days of August, reinforcing expectations that AI-driven demand will continue to support Korea's key technology sector. Gains were also recorded in KB Financial Group (2.63%), Shinhan Financial Group (3.17%), and SK Inc (2.99%). Meanwhile, renewed gains in US Treasury yields limited the upside, as investors grew skeptical that the Treasury's expanded bond buyback plan would provide lasting relief from elevated borrowing costs. Brent crude also rose more than 2% amid renewed US-Iran tensions, raising concerns over inflation and higher energy costs.

Trading Economics-


The Shanghai Composite ended little changed at 3,905.2 on Friday, while the Shenzhen Component rose 0.87% to 14,094.2, as investors welcomed fresh signals of policy support amid a slowing economic backdrop. Vice Finance Minister Liao Min said Beijing would step up fiscal measures, with a larger share of government spending directed toward households and consumptions to bolster weak domestic demand. Earlier this month, the People's Bank of China reiterated its commitment to an appropriately accommodative monetary stance and pledged to introduce targeted support measures when necessary, but refrained from signaling imminent cuts to policy rates or banks' reserve requirement ratios. Among the standout performers were PetroChina (1.91%), Foxconn Industrial Internet (1.14%), Ping An Insurance (2.32%), CATL (1.60%), Zhongji Innolight (4.29%), and Eoptolink Technology (6.76%). Despite Friday's gains, the Shanghai Composite declined 0.56% for the week, while the Shenzhen Component fell 1.81%.

Trading Economics-


Japan’s food prices rose 3.5% year-on-year in July 2026, accelerating from 3.2% in June and marking the fastest increase since February. Price pressures strengthened across fresh vegetables (6.6% vs 2.8%), fresh fruit (2.4% vs 0.2%), cakes and candies (6.1% vs 5.6%), fish and seafood (9.0% vs 7.6%), meats (3.9% vs 3.5%), alcoholic beverages (0.6% vs 0.5%), and meals eaten out (1.7% vs 1.6%). Meanwhile, price growth eased for dairy products and eggs (3.5% vs 4.5%), oils, fats and seasonings (3.4% vs 4.0%), prepared foods (3.5% vs 3.7%), and beverages (5.5% vs 5.9%). Cereal prices fell for a third straight month (-2.2% vs -2.1%). Notably, rice prices dropped 11.6% year-on-year, extending their decline for a third consecutive month and marking the steepest fall since August 2005.

Trading Economics-


New Zealand stocks advanced 53 points, or 0.4%, to close at 13,973 on Friday, reversing morning losses and erasing the previous session’s losses to hit their highest level since August 5, buoyed by gains in tech sectors, consumer staples, real estate, and communication services. Positive earnings reports during the peak corporate reporting season continued to support sentiment. However, losses in energy, materials, and industrials limited gains. A downbeat session on Wall Street on Thursday also capped the rise amid rising Treasury yields. Traders were also anticipating the release of US July PMIs and New Zealand's retail sales for Q2 due next week. On the data front, New Zealand's trade deficit widened in July, as exports rose less than imports. Among gainers were Scales Corp. (2.6%), Colonial Motor (1.6%), Fisher & Paykel (1.3%), A2 Milk (1.2%), Chorus (1.2%), and Westpac Banking Corp. (1.0%). For the week, the index rose 0.9%, marking the third consecutive weekly gain.

Trading Economics-


The annual inflation rate in Lebanon slowed to 15.7% in July 2026 from 17.3% in the previous month. It marked the lowest reading since February, as price increases eased across major categories, particularly food and non-alcoholic beverages (14.5% vs 18.0% in June), housing and utilities (14.5% vs 17.1%), and transport (27.6% vs 29.4%). Inflation also moderated for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.0% vs 8.4%), clothing and footwear (1.7% vs 6.6%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (6.8% vs 7.1%), and restaurants and hotels (14.6% vs 16.3%). On the other hand, price growth accelerated for health (7.3% vs 2.8%), recreation, amusement and culture (43.2% vs 42.6%), and miscellaneous goods and services (16.3% vs 14.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.03%, following a 0.75% decline in June and marking a second consecutive month of deflation.

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India’s BSE Sensex finished virtually unchanged at 77,541 on Friday, as market sentiment remained cautious amid elevated oil prices and global bond yields, alongside persistent geopolitical uncertainty. Gains in financials and utilities helped to offset weakness in technology, autos and FMCG stocks. Heavyweight private lenders advanced more than 1%, with Kotak Mahindra Bank (1.1%) and ICICI Bank (0.5%) leading the gains after Goldman Sachs began coverage of 14 Indian banks, pointing to improving earnings prospects. Bernstein expects healthy bank growth in FY2027, underpinned by robust liquidity and a recovery in nominal credit growth. Defensive utilities such as Power Grid and NTPC added 2.7% and 0.6%, respectively. Major losers included Trent (-1.5%), Maruti (-1.5%), IndiGo (-1.4%), HCL Technologies (-1.2%), Hindustan Unilever (-1%) and Infosys (-0.9%). For the week, the index fell about 0.6%.

Trading Economics-


The FTSE 100 rose 0.6% on Friday, extending gains for the sixth session and record a weekly advance. Mining stocks benefited from stronger precious and industrial metal prices, with Antofagasta rising nearly 6%, Endeavour Mining adding more than 4%, and Anglo American climbing 3%. Also, Fresnillo, Rio Tinto and Glencore added around 2% each. Among financial stocks, HSBC gained more than 1%. Meanwhile, heavyweight oil companies Shell and BP fell as Brent crude prices edged lower. The latest data showed UK private sector output expanded at the fastest pace since April, led by a sustained turnaround in service sector activity, which offset a slowdown in manufacturing production growth. Still, UK retail sales fell for the first time since April because very hot weather and fewer discounts kept shoppers away.

Trading Economics-


European stocks closed higher on Friday, trimming loses from the week with support from heavyweight banks and luxury brands. The Euro STOXX 50 rose 0.6% to 6,458 and the STOXX Europe 600 gained 0.5% to 653. Santander surged 2.7%, while BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, BBVA, and Nordea rose more than 1% to limit losses on the week as the US Treasury signal that it would intervene in bond market weakness on Wednesday raised volatility for benchmark credit costs. In turn, Italian lenders underperformed amid a wave of M&A possibilities in the sector, with UniCredit closing 0.3% higher while Intesa Sanpaolo fell 0.7%. Banca MPS simultaneously launched bids on Banco BMP and Banca Generali, jointly worth €34 billion, as it fends off Intesa's takeover bid. Meanwhile, LVMH, Adidas, Hermes, and Ferrari jumped between 2.3% and 1.5% for a positive session for luxury brands. The Euro STOXX 50 lost 1.3% and the STOXX Europe 600 fell 0.6% on the week.

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US stock indices closed higher on Friday, pausing the week’s losses on solid economic data. The S&P 500 gained 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.3%, and the Dow added 518 points. Equities advanced after a report showed US business activity grew at its fastest pace in more than four years. Meanwhile, markets continued to assess a recent surge in bond yields driven by inflation and fiscal concerns. Long-dated Treasury yields remained near levels seen before the Treasury announced a larger bond buyback, while the dollar extended its decline. Hyperscalers gained, with Alphabet up 1.1%, Microsoft adding 0.4% and Meta rising 0.8%. Chipmakers traded mixed, with Nvidia down 1%, Micron losing 0.8% and Intel retreating 2.2%. Walmart fell over 10% on the week after a rare earnings miss weighed on its outlook and raised concerns over US consumers.

Trading Economics-


The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 0.7% to close at 36,620 on Friday, supported by gains in mining and banking stocks. Gold prices held onto their gains after the US signaled it would increase Treasury note and bond buybacks in the secondary market. Agnico Eagle gained 2.3%, Barrick rose 2.9%, and WPM jumped 4.9%. Financials also traded mostly higher following weaker-than-expected retail sales data, as softer consumer spending reinforced expectations that the Bank of Canada will keep interest rates unchanged next week. BMO gained 0.6%, while Scotiabank added 1%. Fairfax Financial (+0.2%), a frontrunner to acquire the Indian government’s stake in IDBI Bank, is set to be given up to two years to consolidate its Indian banking holdings, potentially easing the acquisition process. Retailers traded mostly lower, with ARD down 0.4%, Loblaw shedding 0.7%, and Dollarama losing 0.5%.

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The Ibovespa jumped 1.8% to close at 171,032 on Friday, supported by a broad rally in financial stocks. The political landscape remained in focus ahead of a new Datafolha poll on Brazil’s October presidential election, due after the close. On Monday, a BTG/Nexus poll showed President Lula and Senator Flلvio Bolsonaro, viewed by markets as more fiscally restrictive amid elevated domestic yields and weak business activity, in a technical tie in a potential runoff. Bond yields fell on expectations of a tighter presidential race and broad-based weakness in the US dollar. Itaْ rose 2.9%, Bradesco added 3.1%, Itaْsa gained 2.5%, and B3 jumped 5.2%. Utilities also advanced, with Axia up 1.4% and Sabesp rising 1.9%. Vale added 1.4% as iron ore prices firmed, while CSN Mineraçمo (+4.8%), CSN (+7.6%) and Usiminas (+7.9%) rallied. Embraer (-1%) and Petrobras (-0.1%) were among the few laggards.

SPA-


The Egyptian Stock Exchange indices closed higher today.

The market capitalization of listed companies rose by approximately EGP 60 billion, reaching EGP 4.278 trillion, with total trading volume reaching approximately EGP 22.3 billion. Share market transactions amounted to approximately EGP 12.2 billion.

The main index, EGX 30, rose by 1.12% to reach 55,350.36 points, while the EGX 70 index for small and medium-sized enterprises jumped by 3.87% to reach 21,621.83 points. The broader EGX 100 index also climbed by approximately 3.18% to reach 27,911.41 points.

SPA-


The Kuwait Stock Exchange closed trading today with its general index rising 74.63 points, or 0.85%, to reach 8892.89 points. Trading volume reached 389.6 million shares across 23,209 cash transactions, with a total value of 105 million Kuwaiti dinars.

The main market index rose 119.98 points, or 1.33%, to close at 9108.40 points. This was achieved through the trading of 190.6 million shares in 12,654 cash transactions, valued at 39.1 million dinars.

The premier market index climbed 68.85 points, or 0.75%, to reach 9308.57 points. This was based on the trading of 198.9 million shares in 10,555 cash transactions, with a total value of 65.9 million dinars.