Russian Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Supply Concerns 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
US Stock Futures Recover as Iran Signals Progress in Peace Talks 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
France Faces Long Road to Economic Rebalancing as Weak Demand and High Rates Weigh, Says Citi 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
China Keeps Loan Prime Rates Unchanged for 13th Straight Month as Policymakers Prioritize Credit Demand Recovery 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Asian currencies edged lower on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened following better-than-expected consumer sentiment data. The U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.3% during Asian trading, supported by a positive economic outlook, while Dollar Index Futures mirrored the gain.
The Japanese yen weakened further, with USD/JPY up 0.2% after a near 1% rise on Tuesday. Market attention turned to Japan’s 40-year bond auction, as yields on 20-, 30-, and 40-year government bonds recently surged to record highs. A Reuters report indicated that Japan’s Ministry of Finance may reduce super-long bond issuance due to waning demand from institutional investors like life insurers.
China’s yuan also slipped slightly, with both USD/CNY and USD/CNH pairs up 0.1%. The Australian dollar remained mostly flat after erasing early losses. April’s consumer price index came in higher than expected, challenging market assumptions of further interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut rates by 25 basis points, aligning with expectations amid weak domestic growth and global trade pressures. The NZD/USD pair responded positively, rising 0.4%.
In other currency moves, the South Korean won remained stable against the dollar, while the Singapore dollar appreciated 0.1%. The Indian rupee weakened, with USD/INR advancing 0.3%.
Investors are closely monitoring macroeconomic data and central bank actions across the Asia-Pacific region as global monetary dynamics shift. The upcoming bond auction in Japan and inflation trends in Australia are key focus areas influencing regional currency performance and rate outlooks.
