Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Most Asian currencies fell on Monday as the U.S. dollar strengthened in the wake of American strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, stoking demand for safe-haven assets. The dollar index added roughly 0.3% in early Asian trade, extending last week’s rise after several Federal Reserve officials signaled interest rates may stay higher for longer. Investors now look to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday for policy clues.
Safe-haven flows favored the greenback even as traditional refuges such as gold and the Japanese yen weakened. Tehran’s reported threat to block the Strait of Hormuz—a choke-point for nearly a fifth of global crude shipments—fueled a jump in oil prices and heightened inflation worries across energy-dependent Asia.
The Chinese yuan slipped, with the onshore USDCNY pair up 0.1%, while the Singapore dollar’s USDSGD pair advanced 0.2%. South Korea’s won led regional losses, the USDKRW pair climbing 0.7%. India’s rupee also softened, nudging USDINR 0.2% higher.
Positive economic data offered little support. Australia’s AUDUSD fell 0.7% despite June PMIs showing resilient manufacturing and services growth. Japan’s yen lost 0.5% even after surveys revealed the first factory-sector expansion in 11 months and faster service-sector growth.
With geopolitical tensions elevated and U.S. monetary policy still restrictive, traders remain cautious. Any escalation in the Middle East or unexpectedly hawkish remarks from Powell could keep currency volatility high in the days ahead.
