🌅 NordFX Morning Market Update - May 22, 2026
🌏 Asian Markets Asian stocks rose Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 up ~1.9% to ~62,856, adding to Thursday's powerful 3.1% surge. The MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index was 0.3% higher, on track for a modest weekly gain. The USD hovered near 6-week highs as investors weighed conflicting signals from US-Iran peace talks.
🇺🇸 Wall Street (Thu close) Dow +0.57% to 50,295 · S&P 500 +0.17% to 7,445 · Nasdaq +0.09% to 26,293. All three closed in the green on AI momentum and earnings optimism.
🛢️ Oil Brent ~$104-105/bbl (+1.9%), WTI ~$99/bbl. Prices climbed after Iran's Supreme Leader ordered enriched uranium to remain inside Iran, dimming hopes for a Hormuz reopening. Oil remains ~50% above pre-war levels.
🥇 Gold $4,524/oz (-0.42%) - drifting lower on mixed Iran signals, but holding above $4,500 as inflation and geopolitical risks provide support.
💱 Forex EUR/USD slipped below $1.16, its lowest since early April, as prolonged high energy costs weigh on Eurozone growth. Dollar Index near 6-week highs.
₿ Crypto Bitcoin ~$77,200, broadly flat, tracking cautious risk sentiment.
📅 Today's key data: NZD Retail Sales · UK Retail Sales & GDP · German Ifo Business Climate · Japan CPI
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