The US stock market finished on a high note, buoyed by stabilizing crude prices and easing Treasury yields, offering much-needed relief to investors. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq celebrated record closing highs, indicative of a widespread market upturn. With third-quarter earnings just around the corner, excitement is building among analysts and investors, especially with notable announcements from companies like AMD and Constellation Energy.
Kalshi has introduced a new perpetual futures contract that is linked to its US 500 index. This contract will allow traders to hold positions indefinitely, without the need to roll over. It aims to provide stock market exposure, a key step in Kalshi's expansion as a financial exchange. The CEO mentioned leveraging long or short positions on the stock index.
SAP has confirmed its plans to acquire TechWolf, a company renowned for its expertise in workforce data analysis. This strategic move is intended to bolster SAP's comprehension of customer workforce skills and needs in the evolving landscape of AI. Although TechWolf will retain its autonomy and continue to serve its current non-SAP clients, SAP aims to finalize this transaction by the fourth quarter, subject to regulatory approval.
Gold prices are set to soar to $5,013 per ounce in the next year, while silver is expected to jump from $61 to $97 per ounce. In addition, LBMA officials foresee platinum prices climbing to $1,914 an ounce and palladium rising to $1,415. This outlook occurs against a backdrop of rising interest rate worries and geopolitical strains that continue to shape the market landscape.
The US Energy Information Administration has revised its oil price forecasts for the coming years due to supply issues. Global benchmark Brent crude is expected to average approximately $98 a barrel in 2026. Retail diesel prices are projected to remain high initially before gradually declining to around $4.50 in 2027. Improvements in Middle Eastern oil production are anticipated as transit routes become safer and more efficient.
The Federal Reserve is set to realign its bank supervision system for increased accountability and efficient decision-making. Five new geographic supervisory regions will be established, each led by a regional leader. This new structure aims to address concerns raised in an independent review of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. The Fed will also reconsider asset thresholds for regulatory requirements to better align with inflation and economic growth.
Indian equities extended their rebound for a second session, with Sensex rising 685 points and Nifty gaining over 220 points. Falling crude prices, strong Q2 business updates and positive global cues lifted investor sentiment, adding nearly Rs 5 lakh crore to BSE market capitalisation.
The rupee weakened 13 paise to close at 96.42 against the dollar, its weakest level in over two months, pressured by persistent foreign investor outflows and oil companies’ dollar demand. RBI intervention limited losses, while markets awaited the central bank’s policy commentary.
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