U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Austria’s AA Credit Rating Affirmed as Fitch Highlights Stable Outlook 
Fed Meeting Sparks Division as Markets Brace for Possible Rate Cut 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Trump Meets Mexico and Canada Leaders After 2026 World Cup Draw Amid USMCA Tensions 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Asian stocks climbed on Monday as investors reacted to stronger-than-expected U.S. job numbers and awaited high-stakes trade talks between the U.S. and China. Wall Street’s Friday rally, driven by the May jobs report, eased concerns over economic fallout from President Trump’s tariff policies, boosting global market sentiment.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index jumped 1.3%, breaching 24,000 for the first time since March. Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.9%. The U.S. dollar slipped 0.3% against the yen to 144.39 after Friday’s 0.9% surge. The euro advanced 0.2% to $1.1422.
Despite market optimism, political unrest in California dampened risk appetite. Over the weekend, President Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles amid ongoing immigration-related protests.
Investors are closely watching trade talks in London where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The meeting will focus on critical minerals, a key area of economic tension, following a rare call between Trump and President Xi Jinping.
May’s U.S. employment report showed 139,000 new jobs, topping forecasts of 130,000 but below April’s 147,000. Attention now shifts to U.S. inflation data due Wednesday, which could influence Federal Reserve rate cut expectations.
Analysts say trade policy remains a major macroeconomic uncertainty. Positive signals from the talks could extend market gains. However, rising social unrest in the U.S. adds caution to the outlook.
Elsewhere, spot gold fell 0.2% to $3,303.19 an ounce, while U.S. crude held steady at $64.56 a barrel after recent gains.
