S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketThe Japanese yen weakened toward 159.5 per dollar on Monday, nearing the key 160 level that has previously triggered market intervention. Top currency chief Atsushi Mimura said the government is prepared to take all necessary steps to respond to foreign exchange moves. Mimura also highlighted the impact of the prolonged Middle East conflict and rising oil prices on the yen, noting that currency fluctuations affect people’s daily lives. The yen failed to hold gains from last week, when the Bank of Japan kept its policy rate steady but signaled a bias toward tighter monetary policy to counter inflationary pressures from surging oil prices. Board member Hajime Takata dissented, recommending a 25 basis point hike to 1% for a second consecutive meeting. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda added that a rate increase remains possible if the economic slowdown from the Iran conflict proves temporary.
