Today’s Outlook :

 

• US MARKET : The S&P 500 index fell 0.3% to 6,559.62, the Dow Jones declined 0.2% to 46,123.72, and the NASDAQ corrected 0.8% to 21,761.89. Wall Street closed in negative territory in a relatively volatile session, driven by conflicting media reports regarding the progress of potential peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. In addition, weakness in communication services stocks and pressure on private credit firms weighed on market sentiment.

 

 

President Donald Trump reiterated that talks with Iran are ongoing and stated that Iran has agreed not to develop nuclear weapons. He said negotiations are being conducted with the “right” parties and are showing positive signals. Trump also claimed that Iran had given a “big gift” related to oil and gas to the U.S., but this claim was immediately denied by Iran’s parliament speaker, who said the statement was aimed at easing market volatility.

 

 

On the economic front, markets focused on the flash U.S. composite PMI from S&P Global, which fell to 51.4 in March from 51.9 in February, marking the lowest level in 11 months. On the corporate side, software stocks declined due to renewed concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) disruption, dragging down the communication services sector. Meanwhile, shares of private credit firms also fell after two major players limited fund withdrawals, adding further pressure to the market.

 

 

 

• EUROPEAN MARKET : European stocks mostly closed higher on Tuesday, while oil prices edged up as investors monitored ongoing air strikes in the Middle East. This came despite U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a temporary delay in planned U.S. military attacks on Iranian power facilities. The panEuropean Stoxx 600 rose 0.5%, Germany’s DAX slipped 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.2%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 advanced 0.6%.

 

 

 

•  ASIAN MARKET : Most Asian equities closed higher on Tuesday but trimmed much of their intraday gains as investors assessed mixed signals surrounding a potential de-escalation of the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran. Sentiment remained fragile following recent regional market losses driven by concerns over the economic impact of the conflict.

 

 

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX rose 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively, after paring earlier gains. Government data showed Japan’s CPI inflation in February grew at its slowest pace in nearly four years, with core inflation falling below the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. The decline was largely driven by government subsidies on energy and food, while underlying inflation pressures remained relatively firm.

 

 

In South Korea, the KOSPI rose 1.3% after earlier surging as much as 4.5%, though it briefly turned negative during the session. The index still recorded a decline of around 6.5% from the previous session. Investors remained cautious over the potential for a more hawkish monetary stance from the Bank of Korea under new Governor Shin Hyun-song.

 

 

Meanwhile, Chinese markets also moved higher, with the CSI 300 rising 0.6% and the Shanghai Composite gaining 0.8%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng led gains with a 1.4% increase. All three indexes had briefly traded in negative territory before rebounding.

 

 

 

• COMMODITIES : 

OIL : U.S. crude oil prices fell around 4% in early Wednesday trading, driven by hopes of a ceasefire that could ease global supply disruptions. The decline followed reports that the U.S. had sent a 15-point proposal to Iran to end the conflict in the Middle East.

 

 

WTI dropped to as low as USD 87.80 per barrel and stood at USD 88.86 (-3.8%) at 23:05 GMT, after previously rising 4.8% on Tuesday before correcting in volatile trading.

 

 

President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were progressing, including securing concessions from Tehran. Media reports also suggested a potential one-month ceasefire, although Iran denied any direct talks and dismissed the reports as “fake news.”

 

 

 

• INDONESIA : The JCI closed at 7,106.84 ahead of the Eid holiday. The extreme volatility seen in global markets over the past week is likely to be reflected in the Indonesian market, with several headwinds including declining gold and commodity prices that could pressure commodity-related stocks. For active traders, scalping strategies may be more effective in the current high-volatility environment. Meanwhile, for more conservative investors, high dividend yield stocks could be considered as an option amid current market conditions.

 

 

 

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