Global equity markets ended Thursday, 6 August, with sharp regional differences as investors balanced corporate earnings, rising oil prices and fragile diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. European shares reached another record, while technology losses pulled Asian markets lower and Wall Street retreated from recent highs.
Asian technology shares suffer heavy losses
Asian markets closed mostly lower as investors reduced their exposure to semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related companies. South Korea’s Kospi suffered the region’s steepest decline, falling 4.6% to 6,296.38. Samsung Electronics dropped 6.3%, while SK Hynix lost more than 10%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.9% to 65,683.26, with Tokyo Electron and Advantest among the major technology-sector casualties. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.5% to 25,530.28, while China’s CSI benchmark slipped 0.2% to 4,651.31. Singapore provided a notable exception, gaining approximately 1%.
Australia reaches another record
Australia moved against the broader regional trend. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.47% to close at a record 9,271.60. Materials, healthcare and gold-mining shares supported the advance, while strong company results added to investor confidence.
Northern Star Resources, Evolution Mining and Newmont benefited from higher gold prices. Healthcare groups CSL and ResMed also advanced, helping the Australian market extend its recent winning streak.
Arab markets pressured by Hormuz uncertainty
Most major Arab markets declined as investors awaited firm details about a possible shipping agreement involving Iran and Oman. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul index fell 0.7%, with ACWA Power, Al Rajhi Bank and Saudi Aramco all losing ground.
Dubai dropped 1.5%, ending four consecutive sessions of gains, as Emaar Properties declined 3%. Qatar also lost 0.7%, while Abu Dhabi edged 0.1% higher. Egypt’s EGX 30 was practically unchanged at 54,676.86.
African markets deliver mixed performance
African exchanges finished without a clear regional direction. South Africa’s All Share Index slipped 0.09% to 115,306.31, with losses in Naspers and major gold producers offsetting strength in selected banks and telecommunications companies.
Nigeria’s All Share Index rose 0.12% to 245,209.34 as renewed demand for large-cap shares extended the market’s advance. Nigerian equities remain approximately 67% higher than a year ago.
Europe extends record run
European shares reached a record for a third consecutive session. The STOXX 600 gained 0.16% to 658.19, supported by corporate earnings and hopes that diplomatic progress could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
France’s CAC 40 rose 0.35%, Italy’s FTSE MIB gained 0.44% and Spain’s IBEX 35 advanced 0.62%, with all three reaching record territory. Germany’s DAX added 0.05%, while London’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.19% to 10,867.89.
Wall Street retreats from recent highs
US markets closed lower as investors awaited Friday’s employment report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 464.02 points, or 0.85%, to 53,885.10. The S&P 500 declined 0.18% to 7,710.03, while the Nasdaq Composite edged 0.06% lower to 26,348.35.
Weak results sent AppLovin and Datadog down approximately 20%, while Western Digital lost 13%. Oil moved sharply higher, with Brent crude gaining 3.83% to $82.49 a barrel.
Latin America closes unevenly
Brazil’s Ibovespa fell 1.23% to 175,546 after the central bank signalled caution over further interest-rate reductions. Mexico’s IPC declined 0.19% to 66,396 after Banxico kept its policy rate at 6.5%.
Chile outperformed, with the IGPA rising 2.55% to 56,609. Investors across the region remained sensitive to US interest-rate expectations, commodity prices and renewed uncertainty surrounding global energy supplies.
Newshub Editorial in Global Markets – 7 August 2026
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