Market Snapshot, 12 August 2026

📊 Equity Markets

• United States
  • S&P 500: 7,728.20 (▼0.32%)
  • Dow Jones: 53,791.85 (▼0.34%)
  • Nasdaq: 26,445.44 (▼0.60%)
  • Tech stocks led declines, with Alphabet down nearly 4%. Chipmakers bucked the trend, Philadelphia Semiconductor Index up 0.87%.
• Europe
  • STOXX 600: 660.51 (▲0.01%) – flat session.
• Asia
  • Shanghai Composite: 3,934.09 (▼0.82%)
  • Hang Seng Tech Index: (▼~2%) amid index overhaul and weak tech sentiment.
  • Sensex (India): 78,263.33 (▲0.13%) – cautious tone, Nifty flat.

🛢️ Commodities

• Oil:
  • WTI crude: $83.94/bbl (▲0.89%)
  • Brent crude: $89.60/bbl (▲0.78%)
  • Prices supported by Hormuz shipping disruptions and Middle East tensions.
• Gold:
  • Spot gold: $4,387/oz (▲0.46%), trading near $4,400.
  • Safe-haven demand driven by geopolitical risks and anticipation of U.S. CPI.
• Silver: $65.33/oz (▲1.02%).
• Copper: $6.64/lb (▲0.48%) – supported by supply concerns in Congo.

💱 Forex Snapshot (USD Reference Rates)

• USD/EUR: 0.867
• USD/GBP: 0.741
• USD/JPY: 159.42
• USD/ZAR: 16.20
• USD/INR: 95.45
• USD/CNY: 6.75

The U.S. dollar index held steady at 99.85, while the yen remained weak despite intervention rumours.

🌍 Geopolitical Drivers

• Strait of Hormuz: Still closed; U.S. forces fired on Iran-linked vessels. Pakistan claims peace talks are progressing, causing intraday oil volatility.
• North Korea: Missile launch ahead of U.S.–South Korea drills added to regional risk.
• AI Sector Concerns: Fears of a bubble in AI financing weighed on U.S. tech giants.

📌 Outlook

• Key event ahead: U.S. CPI release today – consensus expects +0.1% MoM, annual inflation easing to 3.4%. This will heavily influence Fed’s September rate decision.
• BOJ: Expected to hike rates again in September due to yen weakness and inflation risks.

👉 Takeaway for traders: Markets are range-bound with heightened volatility from geopolitics. Watch U.S. CPI and Fed commentary for near-term direction. Defensive assets (gold, yen, CHF) remain supported, while tech equities face pressure from AI financing concerns.