South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Asian stock markets climbed on Friday, led by Japan’s Nikkei 225, amid renewed global trade optimism after the United States and United Kingdom reached a trade deal framework. The agreement retained a 10% U.S. tariff on British goods, while the UK slashed tariffs on U.S. imports from 5.1% to 1.8%. The deal also exempts steel and aluminum imports from Trump’s 25% tariffs, further fueling risk appetite in regional equities.
President Trump hinted at upcoming trade negotiations with China, with talks set to begin over the weekend. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also noted that the administration plans to announce multiple new trade deals while maintaining a baseline 10% tariff.
The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.5%, supported by a weaker yen, while the broader TOPIX index added 1.3%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.6%. The Philippines’ PSEi advanced 1.2%, benefiting from improved regional sentiment.
South Korea’s KOSPI was little changed, and India’s Nifty 50 futures inched up 0.2% despite rising geopolitical tensions with Pakistan. India reported intercepting drone and missile attacks in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur.
In contrast, Chinese stocks fell as trade data showed mixed results. The Shanghai Composite slipped 0.3%, and the CSI 300 declined 0.4%. While exports rose 8.1% year-on-year—well above forecasts—import declines narrowed to 0.2%, beating expectations of a steeper drop. The data pointed to resilient domestic and external demand amid tariff headwinds.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.4%. Market participants now await China’s April CPI inflation figures, due Saturday, for further economic cues.
Global investors remained cautiously optimistic as Wall Street gains and easing trade tensions supported Asian markets.
