Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian currencies traded narrowly on Tuesday, while the U.S. dollar saw modest gains amid renewed trade tensions and global economic uncertainty. The dollar index rose 0.2% in Asian trading, recovering from prior losses, as risk appetite weakened due to geopolitical and economic concerns.
The Australian dollar led regional losses, with the AUD/USD pair falling 0.5%. Dovish signals from the Reserve Bank of Australia and weaker-than-expected Q1 data—including a sharp current account deficit—pressured the currency ahead of Wednesday’s GDP release. The RBA had already cut interest rates by 25 basis points in May, citing headwinds from global trade issues.
The Chinese yuan remained flat, with the USD/CNY holding around 7.1978. Offshore yuan edged down 0.1%, reversing Monday’s gains. Recent PMI data showed a contraction in China’s manufacturing sector, highlighting the impact of escalating U.S. tariffs. While a temporary tariff truce had been agreed in May, recent developments show talks stalling. U.S. President Donald Trump accused China of breaching the deal, while Beijing rejected the claim and criticized continued U.S. curbs on its chip industry.
Other Asian currencies also showed limited movement. The Japanese yen softened slightly, with the USD/JPY pair up 0.3%. The Singapore dollar and South Korean won each saw 0.2% increases against the dollar, with Korean markets partially closed for a presidential election. Meanwhile, the Indian rupee held steady ahead of a key Reserve Bank of India rate decision, where another 25 basis point cut is expected.
Overall, Asian forex markets remained cautious as traders weighed geopolitical risks, central bank actions, and the potential fallout from deteriorating U.S.-China relations. Currency volatility may rise if economic data continues to disappoint or trade tensions escalate further.
