Market UpdatesMar 25, 20262 Min

Global market wrap: Asia markets advance, oil falls, gold gains amid ceasefire hopes in US-Iran war

Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday, supported by broad-based buying as easing oil prices lifted investor sentiment across the region. The drop in oil prices came after US President Donald Trump said Washington was negotiating with Iran, raising hopes of a possible diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. Meanwhile, gold prices climbed, as softer oil prices helped ease concerns about persistent inflation.

We are back with quick updates about global stock markets and major developments across some of the top companies worldwide.

Stocks rose and oil prices fell on Wednesday after reports that the US is seeking a month-long ceasefire in its war with Iran, boosting overall market sentiment.

The shift came amid reports that Washington has shared a 15-point proposal with Tehran aimed at ending the war, raising hopes of a ceasefire and easing concerns over disruptions to global energy supplies.

Asian markets tracked the positive momentum, with all indexes in the green early in the trade. While South Korea’s Kospi was up 1.6% at 5,643, Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 2.9% to 53,811. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was 0.7% higher at 25,255 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index had gained 0.8% at 4,901. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.8% to end the session at 8,534.

Meanwhile, oil prices declined on Wednesday. Brent crude for May was down 3.9% at $100.35 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was trading 3.82% lower at $89.32 per barrel.

US stock futures rose on Tuesday night, with S&P 500 up 0.7% at 6,657 and Nasdaq 100 futures rising 0.8% to 24,415. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.8% to 46,813.

The gains in futures followed a muted session on Wall Street, where markets pulled back after strong advances in the previous session. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% to close at 6,556, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%, to 46,124. The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.8%, ending the session at 21,761.

Meanwhile, gold prices rose on Wednesday, supported by the broader shift in market sentiment. While spot gold was up 1.5% to $4,543 per ounce, US gold futures for April delivery gained 3.3% to $4,547. Silver also moved higher, with spot silver rising 2.45% $72.92 per ounce.

Here’s a look at some of the important developments across the global markets:

Meta offers stock options to top leaders as it steps up AI push

Meta is offering stock options to top leaders as it seeks to retain talent and accelerate its artificial intelligence efforts. The move comes as competition intensifies, with rivals such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google gaining momentum. A Meta spokesperson called this “a big bet,” and said the compensation structure is tied to long-term performance, with payouts dependent on the company achieving significant future growth and delivering value to shareholders. Meta’s stock is down about 4% over the past year, underperforming most megacap peers. Microsoft has also declined, falling 5%, while Alphabet has surged 73%, supported by gains from its Gemini AI portfolio.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX set to file $75-billion IPO prospectus: Report

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to file its initial public offering prospectus with regulators as early as this or next week, The Information reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Advisers working on the deal expect the company could seek to raise more than $75 billion through the IPO. The share allocated to individual investors may exceed 20%, though the final structure is reportedly yet to be decided.

SK Hynix files confidentially for US listing amid rising AI chip demand

SK Hynix said on Wednesday it has confidentially filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a potential listing on Wall Street this year. The South Korean memory chipmaker had first disclosed plans for a US listing in December 2025, as it looks to raise capital to expand production amid rising demand driven by the artificial intelligence boom. In a regulatory filing, the company said it aims to list American Depositary Receipts by 2026, though details including the size, structure and timing of the offering are yet to be finalised.

SK Hynix is a supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI processors.

Merck eyeing $6-billion Terns Pharma buyout to boost cancer portfolio: Report

Pharmaceutical company Merck is reportedly nearing a roughly $6 billion all-cash deal to acquire biotech firm Terns Pharma. The potential acquisition comes as the US-based drugmaker reshapes its oncology strategy and prepares for the 2028 patent expiry of its cancer drug, Keytruda. The company is also setting up a dedicated cancer division around the therapy. Talks between the two companies are reportedly in advanced stages, with a deal possible in the coming days.

Amazon strengthens robotics portfolio with Fauna acquisition

Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, a startup that develops humanoid robots for both consumers and businesses. Fauna Robotics, founded in 2024 by former Meta and Google engineers, recently launched “Sprout,” a robot designed to be accessible, user-friendly and suitable for developers. The acquisition adds to Amazon’s long-standing investment in robotics, primarily focused on warehouse automation. The company bought Kiva Systems for $775 million in 2012, which became the foundation of Amazon Robotics. Amazon has also stepped up deal activity in the sector, recently acquiring Swiss firm Rivr, which builds robots for doorstep delivery.

UK mandates solar panels, heat pumps for new homes amid Iran war energy shock

The UK government announced new rules requiring all new homes in England to be fitted with solar panels and heat pumps, as part of its response to the energy shock linked to the Iran war. The disruption in global oil supplies highlights the need to strengthen energy security by accelerating the shift to clean power. The measures will be implemented under the Future Homes Standard, which will apply to new builds from 2028. The rules mandate on-site renewable energy generation, largely through solar power, along with low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps and heat networks.

Middle East aviation recovers as flight cancellations drop sharply

The aviation sector in the UAE and the wider Middle East is gradually recovering from recent regional conflict, with airlines increasing flight frequencies. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium reportedly showed that the number of departing flight cancellations have dropped from a peak of 65% on March 3 to 14% on March 23. Since February, nearly 26,800 of the 55,000 scheduled flights were cancelled or did not operate.