Overview
- U.S. payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, a surprise that trimmed market odds of a September Fed move and helped the S&P 500 close at a fresh record.
- Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States meets a list of demands, and that stance lifted Brent crude above $84 a barrel.
- The jobs shock sent Treasury yields lower and supported a risk rally led by technology stocks, while Asian markets opened higher on the U.S. lead and Indian benchmarks traded mixed.
- Provisional exchange data show foreign institutional investors were net buyers in India, and corporate earnings—on track for strong Q2 growth—remain a key support for equities.
- The Pentagon announced about a $400 million loan to Sunrise Energy Metals for the Syerston scandium project in New South Wales, a move that channels capital into critical‑minerals and defence supply chains and could shift sector flows; investors will watch U.S. CPI prints this week for the next decisive signal on policy.