Monday, April 13, 2026

Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment Ahead of Monday Open Markets remain closed for the weekend, but early-week sentiment is showing signs of friction as peace talks between the U.S. and Iran have reportedly faltered. The resulting strength in the U.S. dollar, paired with weakness across Asian currency markets, suggests a cautious start for global equities when trading resumes.

Investors continue to digest the implications of a 3.3% CPI print from last week, balancing persistent inflation concerns against the sustained momentum in AI-infrastructure, particularly as TSM remains a focal point for institutional demand. Meanwhile, the healthcare sector is bracing for increased competition after AMZN $238.42 expanded its GLP-1 distribution, placing further pressure on Hims & HIMS as it navigates a challenging regulatory and competitive landscape.

AI Infrastructure Demand Keeps TSM in Spotlight As markets remain closed for the weekend, news of TSM poised to report a fourth consecutive quarter of record profit is circulating. With demand for 3-nanometre AI-focused chips consistently outstripping supply, the chipmaker's market capitalization has ballooned to $1.6 trillion, reinforcing its dominance over regional competitors.

Meanwhile, consolidation activity is heating up in the waste management sector, with GFL GFL reportedly nearing an acquisition of Secure Waste in a deal valued at over $4.3 billion. Investors remain focused on the interplay between persistent AI-infrastructure tailwinds and ongoing macro-economic pressures as they head into the new trading week.