S&P 500 and ASX Rally as Big Banks Drive Markets Higher

Both the S&P 500 and ASX have rallied on the back of stronger-than-expected major bank earnings reports on both sides of the Pacific.

In the US, Bank of America reported a 31% year-over-year increase in earnings per share at $1.06, exceeding Wall Street’s estimate of $0.95. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley delivered a record-breaking quarter with EPS of $2.80, a nearly 49% increase from the same period last year. 

On the Australian front, the benchmark ASX 200 leapt 1.03% to 8990.99, with all four major Australian banks playing a major role. CBA closed 1.45% higher, Westpac 1.98%, NAB 1.87%, and ANZ 0.53%.

These strong bank results indicate broader economic strength, despite recent concerns about US-China trade tensions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasised that Washington did not want to escalate trade conflict with China and noted that President Trump is ready to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month. 

With the third-quarter earnings season just getting underway, these early positive results from financial institutions could prove as the start of continued market strength through to the end of the year.

U.S. Government Shutdown Likely to Last Into November

Washington remains gridlocked as the U.S. enters its 16th day of shutdown. With no signs of compromise on the horizon, it appears increasingly likely that the shutdown will extend into November and could even compromise the Thanksgiving holiday season.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned “we are starting to cut into muscle here” and estimated “the shutdown may start costing the US economy up to $15 billion a day.” 

The core issue driving the shutdown is healthcare policy, specifically the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Democrats are demanding these subsidies be extended, while Republicans argue this issue can be addressed separately from government funding.

The Trump administration has taken steps to blunt some of the shutdown’s immediate impact, including reallocating funds to pay active-duty soldiers this week and infusing $300 million into food aid programs. 

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has emphasised these are merely “temporary fixes” that likely cannot be repeated at the end of October when the next round of military paychecks is scheduled. 

By the end of this week, this shutdown will become the third-longest in U.S. history. If it continues into November 4th, it will surpass the 34-day shutdown of 2018-2019 to become the longest government shutdown ever recorded.

This prolonged shutdown adds another layer of volatility to markets. While previous shutdowns have typically had limited long-term market impacts, the unprecedented length and timing of this closure, combined with its expanding economic toll, warrant closer attention as we move toward November.

Trump Announces Modi Has Agreed to Stop Buying Russian Oil

Yesterday, Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil. He stated that Modi assured him India would halt Russian oil imports “within a short period of time,” describing it as “a big step” in efforts to isolate Moscow economically.

The announcement comes after months of trade tensions between the US and India. In August, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the US, doubling previous rates and specifically citing India’s Russian oil purchases as a driving factor.

 

India has been one of Russia’s top oil customers alongside China in recent years. Both countries have taken advantage of discounted Russian oil prices since the start of the Ukraine invasion.

Analysis suggests India saved between $2.5 billion to $12.6 billion since 2022 by purchasing discounted Russian crude compared to other sources, helping support its growing economy of 1.4 billion people.

Trump suggested that India’s move would help accelerate the end of the Ukraine war, stating: “If India doesn’t buy oil, it makes it much easier.” He also mentioned his intention to convince China to follow suit: “Now I’ve got to get China to do the same thing.” 

The Indian embassy in Washington has not yet confirmed Modi’s commitment. Markets will be closely watching for official statements from India and monitoring oil trading patterns in the coming weeks to assess the potential impact on global energy flows and prices.

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