Market UpdatesMay 19, 20262 Min

Global Market Wrap: Asian Markets Mixed As Iran Tension Eases, Oil Falls And Gold Weakens

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

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Tuesday as investors reacted to reports that US President Donald Trump had delayed a planned strike on Iran while expressing optimism about a possible nuclear agreement.

South Korea’s Kospi slipped 3.2% to 7,271, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 gave up early gains and was 0.4% lower at 60,550. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.6% to 25,835, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 1.1% to 5,054. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.1% to 8,604.

Wall Street ended mixed on Monday, with the S&P 500 closing flat at 7,403 and the Nasdaq declining 0.5% to 26,090. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.3% to close at 49,690.

Oil prices dropped on Tuesday, with Brent crude futures for July delivery dropping 1.5% to $110 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures declined 1.6% to $107 per barrel.

Gold prices were also down on Tuesday, with spot gold slipping 0.6% to $4,538 per ounce. US gold futures for June delivery was down 0.4% to $4,541, while spot silver declined 2.3% to $76 per ounce.

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

NextEra And Dominion Energy Announce $66.8-Billion Merger

US power companies NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy said they will merge in a $66.8-billion all-stock deal, creating one of the world’s largest electric utilities as power demand from AI-driven data centres continues to rise. The combined company will become the third-largest US energy company after Exxon Mobil and Chevron.

OpenAI Wins Lawsuit Against Elon Musk, Clears Path For IPO

A US jury ruled against Elon Musk in his lawsuit against OpenAI, finding that the company was not liable for allegedly moving away from its original mission to benefit humanity. The verdict removes a major obstacle for OpenAI as it explores a potential IPO that could value the company at $1 trillion.

Google, Blackstone Launch AI Cloud Venture To Meet Data Centre Demand

Google and Blackstone will launch an artificial intelligence cloud venture to meet the growing demand for AI computing services. Blackstone will invest an initial $5 billion in equity to help bring 500 megawatts of data centre capacity online by 2027.

Japan Economy Grows 2.1% In First Quarter, Beating Forecasts

Japan’s economy grew at an annualised rate of 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026, beating analysts’ expectations as consumption improved and exports remained strong. GDP growth came in above the 1.7% forecast in a Reuters poll and higher than the previous quarter’s 1.3% expansion.

Kuark Capital Launches $400-Million Asia AI-Focused Hedge Fund

Hong Kong-based Kuark Capital is launching a new hedge fund focused on Asian technology and artificial intelligence stocks, with investments centred on Taiwan and Japan. The firm has secured at least $400 million ahead of the fund’s launch.

Germany Plans €10 Billion Boost For Civil Defence

Germany plans to allocate 10 billion euros ($12 billion) to strengthen civil defence as part of a broader rise in military and security spending. It’s aimed at improving preparedness for emergencies, including attacks.

Australia Consumer Confidence Improves Slightly In May

Australian consumer sentiment rose modestly in May as lower fuel prices offered some relief to households. But confidence remained weak due to rising borrowing costs and concerns about the economy. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index rose 3.5% to 83.0 in May from 80.1 in April.