Market Headlines – 8/5/2018

US

• US. stocks edged higher following a spate of mergers and acquisitions while the dollar climbed to the strongest level this year.
• Tech shares were the best performers in the U.S., lifting the S&P 500 Index.
• Oil gained, rising 1.7%, following speculation the U.S. may pull out of a nuclear accord with Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East and potentially disrupting supplies from that OPEC producer. President Donald Trump is scheduled to announce his decision on Tuesday.

Europe

• European stocks ended higher on Monday in a quiet session as the U.K. market remained closed for a public holiday, with a renewed dip in the euro fuelling expectations that currency headwinds for the region’s exporters are set to ease.
• European equities closed up 0.4% the highest closing level since early February. The euro slipped below $1.19 versus the dollar, falling to levels not seen since late December.

Asia

• Asian stocks gained Tuesday, extending a gradual recovery after declines in recent weeks stoked by concerns about the vulnerabilities of emerging-markets in the face of higher U.S. yields, a stronger dollar and costlier energy prices.