{"id":138637,"title":"What happened overnight – Tuesday 21st July 2026","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-07-21T07:32:28+00:00","modified":"2026-07-21T07:32:28+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/what-happened-overnight-tuesday-21st-july-2026/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/what-happened-overnight-tuesday-21st-july-2026.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/what-happened-overnight-tuesday-21st-july-2026.json","category":"Blogs","categories":["Blogs","Technology","Technology, Media & Telecoms"],"tags":["Asia","Bangkok","Denmark","Endeavour Mining","Fed","Federal Reserve","Finland","FRANCE","FTSE 100","GERMANY","Glencore","Greenland plan","Hong kong","Japan","London","Manila","mining stocks","Mumbai","Nasdaq Composite","NATO alliance","Netherlands","Nikkei 225","Norway","S&P 500","shanghai","Singapore","Sweden","Sydney","Taiwan","UK","United States","Wall Street","Wellington"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/overnight-1-1.webp?fit=750%2C406&quality=80&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"**Asian Markets Rebound as Chip Stocks Recover and Oil Eases**\n\nAsian markets were broadly firmer on Tuesday as investors balanced escalating Middle East tensions against a rebound in technology stocks.\n\nBrent crude fell around 0.7% to about US$88.50 a barrel in early trading, easing after a sharp rally that has lifted prices by roughly a fifth this month.\n\nOil markets remain focused on the conflict between the US and Iran, with both sides exchanging strikes for a tenth consecutive day.\n\nWashington has targeted Iranian military infrastructure, while Tehran has launched attacks on US-linked sites across the Gulf.\n\nShipping routes also remain under threat, with Houthi militants warning of further disruption in the Red Sea, although diplomatic efforts are continuing around a possible temporary ceasefire.\n\nDespite the geopolitical risks, sentiment across Asia improved as chipmakers recovered from recent selling linked to concerns over artificial intelligence valuations.\n\nThe MSCI Asia Pacific index rose around 2.2%, snapping a three-day losing streak.\n\nMarkets in South Korea and Taiwan, both closely watched as indicators of global AI and semiconductor demand, climbed roughly 4%.\n\nJapan’s Nikkei 225 gained 2.7%, led by technology stocks, while Nasdaq 100 futures rose around 1%.\n\nIn China, a technology-heavy index jumped nearly 7% as state-backed institutions moved to support markets, with Hong Kong equities also pushing higher.\n\nCurrency markets remained sensitive to UK political developments, with sterling under pressure after Prime Minister Andy Burnham named former defence secretary John Healey as chancellor.\n\nThe appointment has fuelled expectations of higher defence spending, although Healey has also stressed the importance of fiscal discipline."}