Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Asian currencies were mostly flat on Monday after a week of losses, as investors remained cautious amid fresh U.S. tariff threats and mixed signals from global trade data. The U.S. Dollar Index edged up 0.1% during Asian trading hours, with Dollar Index Futures also rising 0.1%.
Market focus shifted to escalating trade tensions after former President Donald Trump announced a 30% tariff on most European Union and Mexican imports starting August 1. The EU responded by extending a pause on retaliatory tariffs, signaling hopes for a diplomatic resolution. Trump had also unveiled tariffs last week targeting Japan, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, and copper imports, and threatened a 10% tariff on BRICS-aligned nations.
Currency markets stayed subdued as traders avoided major positions amid the policy uncertainty. The Japanese yen (USD/JPY) and South Korean won (USD/KRW) remained largely unchanged, while the Australian dollar (AUD/USD) slipped 0.2%. The Indian rupee (USD/INR) rose 0.2%, and the Indonesian rupiah (USD/IDR) gained 0.3%.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Q2 GDP exceeded expectations, driven by resilient electronics and manufacturing exports. However, the government warned of growing downside risks in H2 2025 due to volatile U.S. tariff policies. The Singapore dollar (USD/SGD) held steady.
In China, trade data showed a stronger-than-expected rise in the June trade surplus, helped by improved exports amid recent tariff reductions with the U.S. Both the onshore yuan (USD/CNY) and offshore yuan (USD/CNH) remained stable.
Investors are closely watching further trade policy developments as markets look for clarity on global economic direction.
