{
  "id": 3412534,
  "title": "Asian markets breathe easier as oil slides — but Nvidia and US inflation loom",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/asian-markets-breathe-easier-as-oil-slides-but-nvidia-and-us",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-26T02:57:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/08/26/asian-markets-breathe-easier-as-oil-slides-but-nvidia-and-us-inflation-loom/232662"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Asian markets experienced a slight uptick on August 26, as oil prices continued their descent following diminished fears of a renewed U.S.-Iran military confrontation. Traders were also on edge ahead of Nvidia's earnings and crucial U.S. inflation data. Both primary crude contracts had plummeted over 8% this week due to talks between Tehran and Oman aimed at partially reopening the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with emerging diplomacy efforts to end the Middle East crisis.\n\nU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the White House was undertaking an \"economic D-Day\" against Iran and its allies, although the measures were deemed milder than initially anticipated. Nikhil Gupta, a strategist at Axis Securities, noted that the strategy could encourage Iran to return to negotiations, potentially resolving the conflict. Meanwhile, Pakistani mediators reported constructive discussions with Iran’s president, expressing optimism for lasting regional peace.\n\nCrude oil prices dropped more than 2% today, falling well below $90 a barrel, which alleviated market pressure after last week's surge heightened inflation concerns, pushing U.S. long-dated Treasury yields to their highest levels since 2007. The decrease in borrowing costs and prospects of further Middle East talks bolstered equities. While Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, and Taipei saw gains, Singapore and Manila declined.\n\nHowever, analysts cautioned that the ongoing U.S.-Canada trade dispute introduced some uncertainty. The primary focus for the week would be Nvidia's second-quarter earnings, a critical indicator of the AI boom's health. Investors are keen to gauge when the massive investments in AI software and hardware will yield substantial returns. Analyst Axel Rudolph from IG highlighted that the actual numbers may be less significant than Nvidia's outlook for the upcoming quarters. He pointed out that even a modest earnings beat could boost the stock if management reaffirms supply constraints over demand softening. Additionally, the release of U.S. personal consumption expenditure data, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, would also be a key consideration for policymakers' decisions on interest rates, with significant implications for market sentiment.",
  "summary": "HONG KONG, Aug 26 — Asian stocks edged higher today as oil prices extended a decline on receding concerns about an...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times - Top News",
        "title": "Global Market Today: Asian stocks mixed ahead of Nvidia results, oil prices slide",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/global-market-today-asian-stocks-mixed-ahead-of-nvidia-results-oil",
        "published": "2026-08-26T00:55:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "Asian stocks edge higher as oil drops on fresh Mid-East hopes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/asian-stocks-edge-higher-as-oil-drops-on-fresh-mid-east-hopes",
        "published": "2026-08-26T02:55:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Asian stocks rebound as oil slides, Nvidia earnings loom; Thai rate decision due",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/asian-stocks-rebound-as-oil-slides-nvidia-earnings-loom-thai-rate",
        "published": "2026-08-26T04:53:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}