{"id":61834,"date":"2026-05-11T23:38:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T03:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-us-dollar-surges-above-98-00-as-us-iran-tensions-escalate-analysts-re-rate-tech-and-healthcare-targets\/61834\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T23:38:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T03:38:29","slug":"global-markets-us-dollar-surges-above-98-00-as-us-iran-tensions-escalate-analysts-re-rate-tech-and-healthcare-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-us-dollar-surges-above-98-00-as-us-iran-tensions-escalate-analysts-re-rate-tech-and-healthcare-targets\/61834\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets: US Dollar Surges Above 98.00 as US-Iran Tensions Escalate; Analysts Re-Rate Tech and Healthcare Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The US Dollar Index (DXY) climbed above 98.00<\/strong> as market optimism for a US-Iran peace deal deteriorated, driving a flight to safe-haven assets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>JPMorgan (<a href=\"\/stock\/JPM\">JPM<\/a>) issued a massive re-rating for Soitec SA (<a href=\"\/stock\/SOI\">SOI<\/a>)<\/strong>, tripling its target price to <strong>\u20ac150<\/strong> from a previous <strong>\u20ac50<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>President Trump confirmed plans to discuss a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan<\/strong> with China\u2019s President Xi Jinping, a move that risks further straining US-China relations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>) is in critical Day 2 mediation talks<\/strong> with its labor union to avert a general strike scheduled for May 21.<\/li>\n<li><strong>South Korea\u2019s KF-21 fighter jet program faces a 29.5% cost increase<\/strong> for its &quot;Block-II&quot; production phase, now estimated at <strong>18.44 trillion won ($12.4 billion)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Geopolitical Tensions Drive Forex and Defense Volatility<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>US Dollar Index (DXY)<\/strong> rose to <strong>98.10<\/strong> on Tuesday as investors reacted to fading hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran. <em>The shift in sentiment follows reports of President Trump\u2019s growing frustration with the stalemate in peace negotiations<\/em>, prompting a pivot toward the Greenback as a defensive play.<\/p>\n<p>Simultaneously, the aerospace sector is under pressure as the <strong>KF-21 Boramae<\/strong> fighter jet program, led by Korea Aerospace Industries, reported significant cost overruns. <strong>Production costs for the Block-II phase have surged by 4.19 trillion won<\/strong>, attributed to global supply chain disruptions and a weakening Korean currency.<\/p>\n<h2>High-Stakes Diplomacy: Trump, Xi, and the Taiwan Question<\/h2>\n<p>President Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, with <strong>U.S. arms sales to Taiwan<\/strong> emerging as a primary point of friction. Trump indicated he would discuss a proposed <strong>$14 billion weaponry package<\/strong> that has been stalled to avoid disrupting the summit. <em>Taipei remains on edge<\/em>, as officials worry the island\u2019s defense needs could be used as leverage in broader trade or &quot;Physical AI&quot; negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>Amidst this diplomatic row, a <strong>Japanese business group<\/strong> began a tour of robot development sites in China. This visit highlights the <em>complex interdependence of the Asian robotics supply chain<\/em>, even as Japan launches its own <strong>$6.3 billion plan<\/strong> to bolster its domestic &quot;Physical AI&quot; sector.<\/p>\n<h2>Analyst Watch: Tech Upgrades and Healthcare Trims<\/h2>\n<p>In the equity markets, <strong>JPMorgan (<a href=\"\/stock\/JPM\">JPM<\/a>)<\/strong> made waves by raising its price target on French semiconductor firm <strong>Soitec SA (<a href=\"\/stock\/SOI\">SOI<\/a>)<\/strong> to <strong>\u20ac150<\/strong>. This aggressive revision from <strong>\u20ac50<\/strong> reflects a major reassessment of the company&#39;s prospects in AI photonics and automotive substrates. <strong>Daiwa Capital Markets<\/strong> also showed optimism in the automation space, raising its target for <strong>Cognex Corp (<a href=\"\/stock\/CGNX\">CGNX<\/a>)<\/strong> to <strong>$73<\/strong> from <strong>$65<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Software leader <strong>Monday.com (<a href=\"\/stock\/MNDY\">MNDY<\/a>)<\/strong> received a target hike to <strong>$90<\/strong> from <strong>Piper Sandler<\/strong> following a &quot;beat-and-raise&quot; first quarter. Conversely, <strong>Hims &amp; Hers Health (<a href=\"\/stock\/HIMS\">HIMS<\/a>)<\/strong> saw its target lowered to <strong>$33<\/strong> by JPMorgan. <em>The cut follows Q1 results that revealed margin compression<\/em> and a swing to a net loss of <strong>$92.1 million<\/strong>, as the company navigates a transition in its weight-loss drug offerings.<\/p>\n<h2>Labor and Industrial Risks in South Korea<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>)<\/strong> management and its largest labor union are holding their second day of government-mediated talks in Sejong. The union is demanding that <strong>15% of operating profit<\/strong> be allocated to a bonus fund, threatening an <strong>18-day general strike<\/strong> if a deal is not reached. <em>Analysts warn that a strike could cost the company up to $20 billion<\/em> and severely disrupt the global high-bandwidth memory (HBM) supply chain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways The US Dollar Index (DXY) climbed above 98.00 as market optimism for a US-Iran peace deal deteriorated, driving 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