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As on : 06-Aug-2026

Market Commentary - Foreign Markets
06-Aug-2026 14:05

Geopolitical concerns neutralise Wall Street

The S&P 500 fell 12.97 points (0.2%) to close at 7,723.55. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 263.24 points (0.5%) to a record high of 54,349.12. The Nasdaq declined by 221.55 points (0.8%) to 26,363.44, impacted by significant losses in major tech companies, including a 4% drop in Alphabet and a 1.1% drop in Microsoft.

Brent crude prices decreased by 0.1% to $79.45 per barrel. Oil prices have fluctuated greatly, previously reaching $102 per barrel, contributing to high inflation. Rising oil prices have increased gasoline prices and shipping costs. Uncertainty regarding the U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict continues to affect the market, although President Donald Trump suggested a deal might be reached soon. The ongoing conflict has reduced global oil supply and unsettled energy markets.

Overall, markets have been rising with positive earnings reports. About 75% of S&P 500 companies have reported, expecting a 50% growth in profits. The Walt Disney Co. saw a 3.6% increase after exceeding profit expectations, driven by a successful “Toy Story 5” and strong theme park revenue. Booking Holdings jumped 6.6% due to rising travel demand. Conversely, SpaceX dropped 13.6% after its quarterly report indicated increased AI spending, while Nvidia gained 3.4% from an AI chip partnership. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 decreased by 0.51%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose by 0.1%. Treasury yields fell slightly, with the 10-year Treasury dropping to 4.61%.

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