Market Talk – May 18, 2026

ASIA:

The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:

• NIKKEI 225 decreased 593.34 points or -0.97% to 60,815.95

• Shanghai decreased 3.862 points or -0.09% to 4,131.528

• Hang Seng decreased 287.55 points or -1.11% to 25,675.18

• ASX 200 decreased 125.50 points or -1.45% to 8,505.30

• SENSEX increased 77.05 points or 0.10% to 75,315.04

• Nifty50 increased 6.45 points or 0.03% to 23,649.95

The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:

• AUDUSD decreased 0.0002 or -0.03% to 0.71522

• NZDUSD increased 0.00241 or 0.41% to 0.58631

• USDJPY increased 0.282 or 0.18% to 159.011

• USDCNY decreased 0.01092 or -0.16% to 6.80313

The above data was collected around 14:39 EST.

Precious Metals:

•  Gold decreased 8.54 USD/t oz. or -0.19% to 4,539.35

•  Silver increased 0.981 USD/t. oz. or 1.30% to 76.728

The above data was collected around 14:41 EST.

EUROPE/EMEA:

The major Europe stock markets had a green day today:

•  CAC 40 increased 34.94 points or 0.44% to 7,987.49

•  FTSE 100 increased 128.38 points or 1.26% to 10,323.75

•  DAX 30 increased 357.35 points or 1.49% to 24,307.92

The major Europe currency markets had a mixed day today:

• EURUSD increased 0.00106 or 0.09% to 1.16368

• GBPUSD increased 0.0084 or 0.63% to 1.34104

• USDCHF decreased 0.00113 or -0.14% to 0.78558

The above data was collected around 14:46 EST.

ENERGY:

The oil markets had a green day today:

•  Crude Oil increased 3.038 USD/BBL or 2.88% to 108.458

•  Brent increased 2.616 USD/BBL or 2.39% to 111.876

•  Natural gas increased 0.0641 USD/MMBtu or 2.17% to 3.0241

•  Gasoline increased 0.05 USD/GAL 1.35% to 3.7519

•  Heating oil increased 0.0775 USD/GAL or 1.91% to 4.1309

The above data was collected around 14:49 EST.

•  Top commodity gainers: Soybeans (2.94%), Cotton (4.24%), Wheat (4.54%) and Corn (4.70%)

•  Top commodity losers: Cocoa (-5.85%), Palladium (-1.12%), Methanol (-8.43%) and Orange Juice (-5.05%)

The above data was collected around 14:55 EST.

BONDS:

Japan 2.7460% (+4.11bp), US 2’s 4.09% (+0.019%), US 10’s 4.6210% (+2.5bps); US 30’s 5.15 (+0.029%), Bunds 3.1609% (+0.74bp), France 3.8050% (+0.18bp), Italy 3.9410% (-1.68bp), Turkey 35.415% (+299.5bp), Greece 3.852% (-0.9bp), Portugal 3.520% (-2.9bp); Spain 3.584% (-2.5bp) and UK Gilts 5.0630% (-11.6bp)

The above data was collected around 14:58 EST.