12:10 - 1.09.2026

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September 1, Fineko/abc.az. Escalating geopolitical tensions and expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes continue to pressure equity markets, though the impact of the recent global bond sell-off on stocks has so far remained limited.

Key Market Highlights:

• S&P 500 & Seasonality: The S&P 500 fell 0.3% on Monday, capping its August gains. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, the index has historically dropped an average of 0.8% in September over the last 30 years, making it the worst-performing month of the year compared to an average 0.9% gain in the other 11 months.

• Asian Markets & MediaTek Rally: Despite rising bond yields and crude oil prices, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index edged up 0.3%, led by Taiwanese equities. Shares of MediaTek Inc. surged 9.9% in Taipei following Nvidia Corp.'s announcement of a $3.5 billion investment in the chipmaker.

• Currency Watch & Japanese Yen: The Bloomberg Dollar Index held steady at 1,197 points. Investors remain hyper-focused on the Japanese yen as it trades near the 160 level per dollar, intensifying expectations that Tokyo authorities may intervene again in currency markets to stem further depreciation.