Key Points

• European Stocks Hold Firm as ECB and U.S. Inflation Loom: Investors await the ECB’s policy decision and U.S. CPI, with rate-cut expectations driving cautious gains across European indices.
• Nikkei Hits Record as SoftBank Surges on Oracle-OpenAI Deal Buzz: Japan’s Nikkei reached an all-time high, boosted by a 10% jump in SoftBank tied to Oracle’s blockbuster AI cloud deal.
• Oracle’s $244B Surge Powers Global Rally as Inflation Cools: Shares soared 36% after stunning growth projections, lifting global equities as easing U.S. wholesale prices reinforced Fed cut bets.
• Copper Holds Above $10,000 on Supply Disruptions and China Demand Hopes: Supply risks from Indonesia’s Grasberg mine and signs of stabilizing Chinese demand supported copper at elevated levels.

European Stocks Hold Firm as ECB and U.S. Inflation Loom

European equities edged higher Thursday, with the DAX up 0.1% and France’s CAC 40 gaining 0.3%, as investors awaited the European Central Bank’s policy decision and U.S. inflation data. The ECB is expected to hold rates at 2% but keep easing options open amid tariff risks, subdued growth, and French political turmoil, with inflation forecast to dip below target next year.

Attention also turned to U.S. CPI, projected at 2.9%, which could influence whether the Fed cuts by 25 or 50 basis points next week. Oil prices slipped as U.S. inventory builds stoked demand concerns despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Nikkei Hits Record as SoftBank Surges on Oracle-OpenAI Deal Buzz

Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.2% to a record 44,372.5 Thursday, lifted by SoftBank’s 10% rally amid reports of a $300 billion OpenAI-Oracle cloud deal linked to the U.S. Stargate initiative.

Gains in energy and utilities stocks further supported the index, while the Topix rose 0.2%. South Korea’s Kospi also hit a record close, up 0.9%, as regional markets tracked Wall Street’s record highs on cooling U.S. inflation and Fed rate-cut optimism.

China’s CSI 300 jumped 2.3%, while Australia’s ASX slipped and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng eased slightly. U.S. futures were steady ahead of August CPI data.

Oracle’s $244B Surge Powers Global Rally as Inflation Cools

Oracle shares skyrocketed 36% Wednesday, adding $244 billion to its market value in the company’s best trading day since 1992, after issuing growth projections that stunned analysts and lifted chairman Larry Ellison’s fortune by over $100 billion. Klarna’s IPO debut also impressed, with shares up 15%.

The bullish tech momentum helped drive the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh record highs, bolstered by U.S. wholesale prices unexpectedly falling in August, easing inflation concerns and reinforcing Fed rate-cut bets. Global equities tracked the surge, with Japan’s Nikkei hitting a record as sentiment turned decisively risk-on across markets.

Copper Holds Above $10,000 on Supply Disruptions and China Demand Hopes

Copper prices stayed elevated above $10,000 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange as investors weighed supply risks in Indonesia and signs of stabilizing demand from China. Freeport’s Grasberg mine, one of the world’s largest sources of copper, was forced to suspend operations while rescuers freed trapped workers, adding to near-term supply concerns.

At the same time, Chinese producer price deflation eased for the first time in six months, fueling expectations of firmer industrial activity ahead. The combination of constrained supply and improving demand outlook is reinforcing copper’s role as a key barometer of global growth momentum.

Conclusion

European equities are steady as investors await ECB guidance and U.S. inflation data that will steer central bank moves. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei surged to record highs, with SoftBank riding optimism around Oracle’s AI-driven momentum.

Oracle’s staggering $244 billion market-cap increase underscored the market’s enthusiasm for transformative tech growth, lifting global equities further.

Meanwhile, copper’s resilience above $10,000 highlights both supply vulnerabilities and tentative signs of Chinese demand recovery.

Global markets are being shaped by a confluence of monetary policy expectations, corporate breakthroughs, and commodity dynamics. Together, these developments reinforce a cautiously optimistic tone across global markets.

Investment Insights

• ECB caution and U.S. CPI data will be pivotal for rate expectations: Investors should prepare for volatility around central bank signaling.
• Japan’s equity rally signals opportunity in tech-linked names: Though political and currency risks warrant selective positioning.
• Oracle’s explosive growth outlook reinforces AI-driven infrastructure as a core investment theme: Benefiting both software leaders and semiconductor suppliers.
• Copper’s resilience underscores the importance of commodities as growth barometers: Supply disruptions and China’s industrial demand recovery could support further upside for base metals.

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