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#Chart of the Day by Yahoo Finance
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#SgMarketUpdate by Business Times
#HKMarketUpdate by Reuters and Trading Economics

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on July 31, 2026

Mandatory criminal history check needed for volunteers, private tutors, coaches in S’pore

Wheelchair users flag potential loss of dedicated space on buses in trial

Banned by China, Taiwan’s prized mangoes debut and sell out in Europe

Caterer Gourmetz charged over River Valley Primary gastroenteritis incident

Love, Bonito customers’ personal information possibly exposed in data breach

When your child has sensory overload in public

British band under investigation for displaying Palestinian flag at S’pore concert

8 trending foods to celebrate National Day

https://str.sg/yRQc

Trump announces agreement for disarmament of Hamas
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/hamas-officials-say-deal-agreed-on-groups-arms-gradual-israel-withdrawal-from-gaza

‘Fear of the regime has now gone’: How big a risk does ‘cockroach’ movement pose to India’s BJP?
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/the-fear-of-the-regime-has-now-gone-how-big-a-risk-does-the-cockroach-movement-pose-to-indias-bjp

18 Best Things To Do This Weekend In SG (31st July-2nd August 2026)
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thesmartlocal.com/read/things-to-do-this-weekend-singapore/amp/

#MarketMind
#TradingDay:

Communication, intervention & liquidation | Reuters

July 30 (Reuters) - Wall Street rallied strongly on Thursday on renewed optimism around AI, sparked and led by an eye-popping surge in Microsoft shares, as equity investors shrugged off the spike in bond yields following Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh's Wednesday comments on inflation.

In the foreign exchange market, meanwhile, the yen notched one of its best days in years ​on suspected intervention from Japanese authorities.

In my column today, I look at why the bond market was distinctly unimpressed with Warsh's seemingly lukewarm commitment to bringing inflation ‌down and even the Fed's 2% inflation target itself. Allowing the bond market to do the Fed's tightening for it is a risky game to play.


Today's Talking Points
Communication
Intervention
Liquidation


What could move markets tomorrow?
Bank of ⁠Japan interest rate ​decision
China 'official' PMIs (July)
Euro zone inflation (July, flash)
U.S. Federal Reserve officials Beth Hammack, Neel Kashkari, and Lorie Logan may release statements ​explaining their dissents this week
U.S. earnings, including Exxon, Chevron, Colgate-Palmolive

https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/global-markets-trading-day-graphic-2026-07-30/

#QuarterChart
Microsoft and Meta results send stocks in opposite directions

Wall Street had wildly divergent opinions on Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta's (META) earnings results Thursday, with Microsoft stock rocketing more than 15% higher and Meta sinking more than 9%...

Why?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dba3JjFJv3V/?igsh=MTJ6cTlkNjV0MGF2ZQ==

Stricter demerit points system for motorists from 2027 | The Straits Times
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/easier-for-traffic-police-to-suspend-motorists-with-revised-demerit-points-system-from-jan-1-2027

askST: What do motorists need to know about changes to the demerit points system?
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/askst-what-do-motorists-need-to-know-about-changes-to-the-demerit-points-system

4 new MRT stations will be built for phase 3 of the Cross Island Line, with interchanges at Jurong Pier and Gul Circle.

The final phase of the line is slated to be completed in the late 2030s. https://str.sg/kfbi

Factbox-Tesla's China operations, the EV maker's global production powerhouse
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/factbox-teslas-china-operations-ev-035303367.html

Iran Tensions Illustrate Defense Supply Shortages That Will Benefit These 3 Stocks
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/iran-tensions-illustrate-defense-supply-015000071.html

China Factory Activity Surprises With First Slump in Five Months
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/china-factory-activity-surprises-first-013658816.html

Musk dismisses report of Tesla's potential China business sale
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/tesla-weighs-sale-china-business-011228562.html

As Revenue Surges 400%, Is Applied Digital Stock a Buy?
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/revenue-surges-400-applied-digital-005000932.html

Andy Jassy said Amazon will spend $220 billion this year—and still won’t have enough capacity to meet demand
https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/andy-jassy-said-amazon-spend-003247672.html

#QuarterChart
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4r8L6RD/

Citadel buys most of hedge fund Situational Awareness’ stock holdings after AI share rout: sources
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/citadel-buys-most-hedge-fund-situational-awareness-stock-holdings-after-ai-share-rout-sources

#CapitalGrowth
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4rdT98u/

Record profits, big deals – but have Samsung and SK Hynix eased market fears over AI?
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/record-profits-big-deals-have-samsung-and-sk-hynix-eased-market-fears-over-ai

Rare Japan-South Korea joint market intervention shakes up yen and won - The Business Times
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/capital-markets-currencies/rare-japan-south-korea-joint-market-intervention-shakes-yen-and-won

#HKMarketUpdate
<Full-day Takeaway>HSI Closes at 25,884, Up 25 pts; HSTI Closes at 4,829, Up 25 pts; XIAOMI Down over 7%; BABA Up over 4%; HSBC HOLDINGS, BANK OF E ASIA Hit New Highs; Market Turnover Rises
2026/07/31 16:12 GMT+08

At close, HSI rose 25 pts or 0.1% to 25,884. HSTI rose 25 pts or 0.5% to 4,829. HSCEI fell 32 pts or 0.4% to 8,612. Market turnover reached $328.18 billion.

https://www.aastocks.com/en/stocks/news/aafn-con/NOW.1536017/top-news/AAFN