Canada’s primary stock benchmark climbed on Tuesday, supported by easing geopolitical concerns and growing expectations of monetary policy easing in the United States. As of 19:15 ET, the S&P/TSX 60 Index was up 7.7 points, or 0.5%, while the broader S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 82.3 points, or 0.3%, extending Monday’s advance of 0.4%. At 26,609.36, the index remains just below its all-time closing high set on June 12, reflecting a positive, though cautious, investor tone. The rally comes amid improving risk sentiment following reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which helped dampen fears of a broader regional conflict.
Indian defence equities exhibited notable strength in early trade today, defying the broader market’s downward trajectory. While benchmark indices Sensex $^BSESN and Nifty 50 $^NSEI opened on a weak note amid elevated geopolitical tension in the Middle East, stocks in the defence sector surged, indicating selective investor appetite for domestic strategic industries.
Escalating geopolitical tension in the Middle East has triggered a broad risk-off reaction in global financial markets. Over the weekend, the United States conducted targeted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, intensifying the conflict between Iran and Israel. The prospect of further escalation and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supply, injected new volatility into commodity and equity markets.
Hong Kong equities registered a marginal decline as investors grew cautious amid tightening liquidity conditions and renewed geopolitical instability. Market participants continue to assess the potential fallout from rising tensions in the Middle East and weakening support from central banks.
Heightened tensions in the Middle East have intensified investor concerns after the United States reportedly launched a direct strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. This marks a serious escalation in the ongoing regional conflict and raises the specter of broader geopolitical instability. The market response, particularly in oil futures and safe-haven assets like gold and the U.S. dollar (USD), reflects fears of supply disruptions and risk contagion.
The United States is reportedly preparing to cancel key export waivers that have allowed global semiconductor giants—Samsung Electronics $005930.KS, SK Hynix $000660.KS, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company $2330.TW —to supply advanced chipmaking equipment to their fabrication plants in China. This shift comes amid escalating strategic competition between the U.S. and China and could signal a renewed tightening of export controls on sensitive technologies.
At the start of 2025, Wall Street entered the year with bullish expectations for Chinese equities. Institutional investors were largely positioned in favor of a rebound in mainland Chinese stocks, betting that Beijing would deploy robust fiscal and monetary stimulus to offset mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs and domestic economic fragility.
Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc. $LIPO saw its stock plunge by 23% following the company’s removal from the Nasdaq Capital Market due to non-compliance with listing regulations tied to private placement transactions. The biotech firm, currently in the clinical stage, is now facing intensified scrutiny from investors and regulators.
Marin Software Inc. $MRIN experienced a 12.2% drop in after-hours trading following its disclosure of a pending delisting from Nasdaq, driven by prolonged reporting deficiencies. The digital marketing software provider failed to meet mandatory filing obligations with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), prompting regulatory action.
The United States' ambitious clean energy transition faces a significant legislative threat. A sweeping bill introduced in the House of Representatives—dubbed the “Megabill”—aims to overhaul federal spending, including revisions to renewable energy subsidies. An analysis by POLITICO reveals that up to 794 planned clean electricity facilities, primarily in Republican-held districts, are now at risk of losing critical financial support if the bill passes without amendment.
European Union trade officials are increasingly accepting a 10% baseline on reciprocal tariffs as the new reality in negotiations with the United States. Multiple sources close to the matter confirm that U.S. negotiators, under the leadership of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, have made it clear that any final deal must include a floor tariff of no less than 10% on EU goods entering the U.S. market.
Investor sentiment was rattled on Thursday as central banks in Norway and Switzerland made unanticipated policy moves, adding to the complexity of an already unpredictable global monetary landscape. In a surprising turn, Norges Bank cut its key policy rate, prompting a sharp slide in the Norwegian krone (NOK) against the U.S. dollar (USD) and the euro (EUR). On the same day, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) lowered borrowing costs to 0%, defying expectations of a return to negative interest rates.
