Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Asian currencies and the U.S. dollar weakened on Monday as markets awaited clarity on shifting U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump. Investor sentiment remained cautious after Trump announced plans to send tariff letters to several countries at 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, adding that BRICS-aligned nations would face an additional 10% tariff due to what he called anti-American actions.
The U.S. Dollar Index slipped 0.2% during Asian trading hours, while futures edged 0.1% lower. The uncertainty around the exact nature and timeline of the tariffs, expected to take effect on August 1, kept market participants on edge. Trump previously introduced a 10% base tariff in April, with potential increases up to 70%.
In currency markets, the South Korean won (USD/KRW) rose 0.4%, the Thai baht (USD/THB) jumped 0.7%, and the Malaysian ringgit (USD/MYR) gained 0.5%. Both the onshore Chinese yuan (USD/CNY) and offshore yuan (USD/CNH) moved up 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. The Japanese yen (USD/JPY), Singapore dollar (USD/SGD), and Indian rupee (USD/INR) all edged 0.1% higher against the U.S. dollar.
Meanwhile, the Australian dollar (AUD/USD) dropped 0.5%, its third consecutive decline, amid rising expectations of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Tuesday. Analysts anticipate a 25-basis-point reduction, marking the RBA's third cut this year as inflation slows and global economic uncertainty persists. ING analysts noted that while a dovish RBA may weigh on AUD cross-pairs, the AUD/USD pair remains primarily influenced by U.S. trade developments.
Investors are now closely watching the upcoming central bank moves and further trade policy updates for market direction.
