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 New Zealand dollar weakened to around $0.576, hovering near a two-week low, as investors assessed the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s policy outlook. The central bank has signalled that its easing cycle likely ended last year after delivering a cumulative 225 basis points of rate cuts, while also pushing back against expectations of a near-term rate hike. This follows recent comments from Governor Ann Breman indicating that rates are likely to remain on hold for an extended period, barring unexpected economic developments. As a result, market pricing for a rate increase before September has faded, with less than a 50% chance now assigned to that meeting, while an October move is seen as increasingly likely. Adding to downward pressure was broadly dampened sentiment after renewed geopolitical tensions, triggered by US strikes on Venezuela, unsettled global markets.
