US stocks declined following the recent geopolitical escalation - Newsquawk Daily Asia-Pac Market Open

Meta Platforms has completed an operational split from Manus, stopping data sharing between the two, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg. Meta barred Manus staff from accessing its internal systems and told employees to stop using Manus tools for internal projects. The moves follow Beijing’s April demand to unwind Meta’s US$2 billion acquisition.

Nio said the Trump administration’s decision to label it a Chinese military company on the Pentagon’s CMC list is “not justified” and that it will seek to correct the listing, including possible legal action. Nio denied any military ties. The article also cites May delivery growth: Nio 37,705 vehicles (+62.3% YoY) and Tesla 47,821 retail sales (+22.6% YoY). NIO premarket rose 3.17% to $5.53.

Reports citing U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) say American forces intercepted four Iranian drones allegedly headed for the Strait of Hormuz and struck coastal radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to protect commercial and military vessels. Iran’s navy said it fired warning shots at U.S. assets; CENTCOM denied this. Trump and U.S. officials linked any resolution to lower fuel prices, while investors track oil and defense stocks.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% to 8,625.10 on Friday, its lowest close since May 28, and logged its worst week in nearly a month. The index was down 1.2% for the week. The slide followed U.S.-Iran peace talks stalling amid U.S./Israel and Hezbollah ceasefire disputes, while resources and financials declined.

The Global Electronics Association reported April 2026 North American PCB data: the book-to-bill ratio was 1.24, and shipments rose 5.8% year over year. Separately, the article says Compal Electronics’ Czeladź investment remains frozen with no production start or official updates. It also notes REalloys’ $20.6 million investment to secure exclusive preferred rights to rare earth processing systems ahead of a 2027 Pentagon ban.

Canadian stocks rebounded Thursday as investors priced higher chances of de-escalation in the Middle East. The S&P/TSX Composite rose 1.19% to close at 35,217.06 after hitting an intraday record 35,291.13. Healthcare led gains. The article cites Israel-Lebanon ceasefire renewal and continued U.S.-Iran peace talks, while noting Hezbollah rejected the truce.