Stronger than expected inflation in the US led newly installed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to reinforce expectations that any rate cut is more likely in late 2026 or into 2027. Despite this hawkish view, US equities pushed to fresh highs, led by technology stocks. This period also saw Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s (“SpaceX”) record-setting initial public offering, becoming a focal point for risk appetite and growth sentiment, which further amplified market enthusiasm. In the near term, the success of the SpaceX listing is likely to add further liquidity into space, artificial intelligence (“AI”) infrastructure and adjacent sectors.

Investor sentiment remains heavily concentrated in AI-related and technology names, and some investors view the Asian market as a way to increase exposure at more attractive valuations than US technology leaders. Strong momentum in Asia is led by Korea, Taiwan and Japan, which play a central role in the AI and memory chip supply chain. On the other hand, China continues to lag even with incremental policy support.

In other key markets, UK equities underperformed their peers, and Eurozone technology stocks performed moderately amid weak macroeconomic data, where the pullback in oil prices eased some inflationary pressure. Markets remain highly sensitive to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions and the current partial normalisation of shipping through the strait weigh on energy prices and inflation expectations.

Against this backdrop, maintaining well-diversified exposure across geographies and themes remains important. We continue to be highly selective in stock selection, adhering to a disciplined, bottom-up approach to portfolio construction that prioritises quality and resilience to macroeconomic uncertainty.