✅ Asian Markets Report — Wednesday, May 27, 2026 📌 Central banks take center stage as Asia reacts to a hawkish $RBNZ, softer Australian inflation, and tightening signals from the $BOJ. 🔹 New Zealand: RBNZ holds, but stays hawkish The Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept its official cash rate at 2.25%, but only after a tight 3–3 split, with Governor Anna Berman casting the deciding vote. Despite the hold, the message was clearly hawkish: policymakers still expect further tightening this year, with rates projected to rise toward 3.28% by 2029 and inflation peaking at 4.3% later this year. $NZD moved higher. 🔹 Australia: Headline CPI cools, core inflation heats up Australia’s April CPI came in at 4.2%, below the 4.4% forecast, mainly due to temporary fuel tax relief. But core inflation (trimmed mean) rose to 3.4%, the highest since 2024, keeping the June $RBA decision wide open. $AUD weakened after the release. 🔹 Japan: BOJ preparing the market BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said the Middle East conflict represents Japan’s fifth oil shock, but this time inflation expectations and labor conditions are very different. BOJ officials also confirmed financial conditions remain loose and real rates are still negative — increasing expectations for a rate hike at the June meeting. $NIKKEI surged +1.3% to a fresh all-time high above 66,000. 🔹 Geopolitics: cautious optimism on Hormuz $OIL moved lower in Asia as traders continued pricing in a possible U.S.–Iran agreement, despite fresh limited military activity in southern Iran. 🔹 Asia equities snapshot $NIKKEI: +1.3% $KOSPI: +4.7% $HSI: -0.8% $SSE: -0.9% Chinese equities came under pressure after renewed tariff rhetoric from U.S. officials. 🔹 Other major headlines $GS raised its 2026 $SPX target from 7,600 → 8,000 China industrial profits rose 18.2% YoY, fastest pace in 2 years Samsung avoided a major strike after agreeing to a massive worker compensation package Elon Musk reportedly discussed a future $SPACEX + $TSLA integration, while SpaceX IPO speculation continues. #SamsungStrikeHalted #USIranDealOnTheEdge