Market news for June 18, 2026: Major Asian stock markets hit record highs today, as the Nikkei 225 broke past 71,000, and the Kospi index crossed 9000. This comes on the back of the temporary ceasefire deal between the US and Iran that was signed into effect today.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Nicole Teo (nicolet@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Market news for June 17, 2026: Asian stocks traded sideways today, as investors await the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting and for the reveal of more details on the US-Iran deal. Oil prices plunged amid growing optimism on rising oil supply.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Nicole Teo (nicolet@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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Market news for June 16, 2026: Asian stocks rose as Japan’s Nikkei hit a record 70,000 following the Bank of Japan’s historic 1 per cent rate hike. Markets are now monitoring whether the US-Iran peace deal will curb global inflationary pressures and influence future central bank policy trajectories.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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Market news for June 15, 2026: A preliminary agreement to end the war between US and Iran reduced geopolitical fears, resulting in an easing of oil prices and a rally in Asian markets. Major central banks, including the US and Japan are set to announce their policy decisions this week.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Nicole Teo (nicolet@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

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Peace talks lift markets, but the real story runs deeper. HSBC's senior ASEAN economist Yun Liu unpacks why Southeast Asia sits at the eye of the storm — navigating energy shocks, a hawkish Fed, dollar pressure, and an AI revolution that's reshaping trade.

From Malaysia's fuel subsidies to Singapore's inflation risk and Vietnam defying tariff odds, this is the macro picture most investors are missing.

Highlights:

01:14 AI productivity boom

03:55 Inflation outlook

05:50 Oil volatility: Strait of Hormuz fallout

09:35 Central banks respond: the path to energy resilience

11:29 SGD safe haven

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

With Yun Liu, senior ASEAN economist, HSBC

Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Market Focus Weekly podcasts every Friday:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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Market news for June 11, 2026: Asian markets slumped, as a hot U.S. inflation report fuelled Wall Street selloffs. Simultaneously, renewed US strikes on Iran forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, driving Brent crude prices higher and deepening geopolitical and economic instability.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for June 10, 2026: Renewed hostilities between the US and Iran triggered a sharp Asian market rout, driving oil prices higher while tech stocks slumped. Investors, battered by geopolitical volatility, now brace for critical US inflation data to decipher the future of interest rates.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for June 9, 2026: Asian stocks rallied, as Israel-Iran ceasefire hopes fuelled relief. Investors aggressively bought semiconductor dips, while South Korea rebounded 7 per cent and strong Chinese trade data signalled resilience, despite caution over the rally's narrow base and lingering inflation concerns.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

---

Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.