Morning Brief: global markets, Kimmel returns, and NATO tensions

Global markets opened Tuesday with a mix of cautious optimism and lingering uncertainty.

Asian stocks showed uneven gains as investors weighed tech momentum against regulatory concerns, while crypto markets attempted a tentative recovery after a $1.7 billion sell-off rattled confidence.

Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions escalated with the UK warning of Russian airspace violations, and entertainment news stirred debate as Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV following a six-day Disney suspension.

A glance at major developments on Tuesday.

NATO faces rising Russian air threats

The UK issued a blunt warning at the United Nations on Monday, declaring that Russia’s repeated incursions into NATO airspace risk triggering an all-out military clash between Moscow and the West.

Citing confirmed violations over Estonia and Poland, including three Russian MiG-31 jets straying into Estonian territory for over 12 minutes, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Security Council that the alliance “stands ready to defend NATO’s skies and territory” and would not hesitate to confront unauthorized aircraft.

The high-stakes rhetoric followed a spate of border incidents, including Russian drone swarms over Poland, that officials called calculated tests of NATO’s resolve.

Russia’s diplomats angrily dismissed the Western warnings as “absurd theater,” but with NATO consultations set for Tuesday and Ukraine calling for tighter air-defense cooperation, the risk of escalation lingers over Europe’s most volatile flashpoints.

Jimmy Kimmel returns after a six-day Disney suspension

Jimmy Kimmel is all set to be back on TV tonight, ending a six-day suspension that gripped the entertainment world.

Disney pulled the plug last Wednesday after Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination stirred controversy. The network said it paused the show “to avoid inflaming an already tense moment” and called some comments “ill-timed and insensitive”.

The suspension sparked a storm of backlash, with fans and fellow entertainers rallying around Kimmel, while Trump supporters celebrated. Behind the scenes, Disney executives and Kimmel held intense talks.

In the end, Disney decided to bring the show back without forcing Kimmel to apologize, signaling support for creative freedom despite the political heat. Read full report here.

Asian markets open mixed

Asian markets kicked off Tuesday on a mixed note, showing that investors are still sorting through a lot of uncertainties.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stood out with a strong 1% gain, buoyed by tech stocks and better earnings reports, giving the market some welcome momentum.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped a bit, weighed down by worries over new regulations and the shaky property sector.

China’s CSI 300 was mostly flat, with traders waiting for clearer signals on government stimulus to boost the slowing economy.

South Korea’s KOSPI and Australia’s ASX were steady, reflecting cautious optimism as investors balanced growth hopes against inflation concerns.

India’s Sensex and Nifty 50 looked set for a cautious open with traders keeping an eye on US inflation data and local earnings for cues. It’s a day of quiet moves, with market sentiment waiting for stronger direction before taking bigger bets. Read full report here.

Crypto markets look at cautious recovery

The crypto market is showing cautious signs of recovery on Tuesday, following yesterday’s sharp crash that wiped out over $1.7 billion in leveraged positions.

Bitcoin bounced back slightly, trading near $112,500, but is long below recent highs around $120,000.

Ethereum and Solana mirrored this cautious optimism, inching up but still grappling with the fallout from heavy sell-offs initiated by forced liquidations.

Yesterday’s crash rattled investor confidence, sparked by a mix of technical breakdowns, rising Treasury yields, and broader macroeconomic concerns.

Traders are now eyeing key support levels closely, wary of another plunge amid volatile market conditions.

Altcoins like XRP and Dogecoin also struggled to find a footing after steep losses, underscoring the market’s fragile state.

Despite the tentative bounce, market participants remain on edge, looking for clearer signs of stability before committing fresh capital, as the aftermath of the sell-off continues to weigh heavily on sentiment across the crypto space.

The post Morning Brief: global markets, Kimmel returns, and NATO tensions appeared first on Invezz