Global Indices & Fear & Greed Index

Taiwan’s stock market is being driven by demand for artificial intelligence, with total market value surpassing $4 trillion and overtaking the United Kingdom to become the world’s seventh-largest stock market. TSMC’s share price hits a new high again, and the weighted index rises by 1.12%. Market confidence is strengthening, and expectations are that Taiwan’s AI hardware supply chain will continue to benefit from expanding capital expenditures.

BTC breaks through $75,000; the Iran–Israel ceasefire and fresh highs in U.S. stocks lift risk assets, but the options market remains somewhat cautious. The ETH/BTC ratio rebounds, signaling capital rotation.

Rising hopes for a US-Iran ceasefire have spurred a global market rally, with stock indices hitting record highs and risk sentiment improving. As tensions ease, oil prices stabilize, the dollar weakens, and investor focus shifts to corporate earnings and growth amid declining inflation concerns.

China's economy grew by 5% in Q1 2026, surpassing expectations, driven by strong exports and policy support. However, retail sales indicate ongoing challenges in domestic consumption, while rising costs and supply-demand imbalances pose risks.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, JPN225 (Nikkei 225) has surged by 1.5% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, CHCUSD100 (China A50 100x) has surged by 0.5% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

According to The Block’s report, Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 market open interest reached a peak of $2.38 billion in April, but has recently fallen to $2.1 billion. TradeXYZ dominates the market, accounting for more than 90% of the share. The top ten by trading volume on Hyperliquid are mainly driven by tokenized stocks and commodity futures, offering 24/7 trading services that traditional exchanges cannot provide.

On April 16, South Korea's KOSPI index increased by 1.05%, opening at 6,155.28, while Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose by 0.57%, reaching 58,466.61 at the open.

Benefiting from positive news about the U.S.-Iran peace agreement, the stock market surged sharply, with the Nasdaq index and the S&P 500 index reaching record highs. Bitcoin remained steady at 74K, market sentiment improved, and the Fear & Greed Index rose to 55. Investor FOMO toward the stock market intensified, and the total market capitalization in the crypto market increased overall, indicating genuine buy-side interest.

The United States and Iran reached a “principled agreement” to extend the ceasefire on April 15, bringing hope for the ceasefire deal that expires on April 21, with Pakistan actively mediating. Despite this, three major core disputes—Iran’s nuclear program, navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz, and war reparations—still need to be resolved. The ceasefire news boosted the financial markets back to strength, pushed oil prices down, and led investors’ risk appetite to rebound. If a formal agreement cannot be signed before the deadline, the situation in the Middle East may flare up again.

Crypto hedge funds are diversifying into traditional commodities and equity indices, indicating that crypto trading infrastructure is merging with mainstream finance, as reported by Bloomberg.

On April 15, the S&P 500 rose 1.2%, nearing its record high, fueled by optimism post-ceasefire in a conflict affecting oil supply. Despite inflation and economic growth concerns, investors remain confident, with strong earnings anticipated, particularly in tech.

Edith Sithole Chen Yik-ting, CEO of HKEx, cautions against extending trading hours in Hong Kong, highlighting potential disadvantages for local investors and emphasizing the importance of product offerings over operational hours. She also noted robust IPO interest from international companies and investors.

On April 15, Japanese and South Korean stock markets saw gains, with Japan's Nikkei 225 increasing by 0.44% to 58,134.24 points and South Korea's KOSPI rising by 2.07% to 6,091.39 points.

Taiwan stocks surged 775 points in the morning, spurred by news that Trump spoke with Iran, breaking through the 36,232-point all-time high. TSMC rose to 2,040 yuan, hitting a new high, and other electronics stocks also moved higher in tandem. Although market sentiment is optimistic, there is still uncertainty around the conditions Trump has for Iran’s nuclear weapons agreement.

FTSE Russell has launched the FTSE Asia Pacific Liquid Government Bond Index Series, covering sovereign debt in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, with tenors of 3, 5, and 10 years. SGX will start trading futures on this index on April 20.

On April 15, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.76% amid gains in the biotech sector and rebounding airline stocks. Notable movers included Wuyi Vision and Lingrui Holdings, while Weijun Biotech saw a significant decline.

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan reported strong economic performance driven by exports, services, and goods trade, alongside steady consumption and rising private investment. He emphasized the city's robust stock market and the need for financial stability to enhance competitiveness.

On April 15, the Hang Seng Index rose 1.14% and the Hang Seng Tech Index increased by 2.26%, driven by gains in tech stocks like Baidu and Alibaba, as well as positive movement in the semiconductor sector.

On April 15, Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 410.48 points to 58,287.87, closing above 58,000 for the first time in three months. South Korea's KOSPI index increased by 177.87 points, with Samsung Electronics shares gaining over 4%.