Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Shares Rise Ahead of Trump-Xi Beijing Summit 
Havana Protests Erupt as Cuba Faces Severe Blackouts and Fuel Crisis 
ASX Names Former Euronext Executive Anthony Attia as New CEO 
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire ‘On Life Support’ as Oil Prices Surge Above $104 
Rubio Discusses Iran Crisis and Strait of Hormuz Disruptions With UK and Australia 
US-China Trade Talks Begin in South Korea Ahead of Trump-Xi Beijing Summit 
Gold Prices Hold Steady as Investors Monitor U.S.-Iran Tensions and Trump-Xi Summit 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Strong U.S. Inflation Data Boosts Dollar 
Dollar Surges as Inflation Data Fuels Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
U.S. Urges China to Help Curb Iran’s Actions in Gulf, Rubio Says 
Trump, Xi Begin High-Stakes China Summit Focused on Trade, Taiwan and Global Tensions 
Oil Prices Hold Above $100 as Trump-Xi Meeting and Iran Conflict Keep Markets on Edge 
Trump Pushes China Market Access During High-Stakes Xi Summit 
Gold Prices Steady Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting as Inflation and Oil Concerns Persist 
New Zealand Budget 2026 Focuses on Fiscal Discipline and Infrastructure Investment 
Japan Considers Extra Budget Aid Amid Rising Fuel and Utility Costs 
BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Grow as Board Member Signals Hawkish Stance 
Asian stock markets traded cautiously on Tuesday as investors reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone a planned military strike on Iran, easing fears of an immediate escalation in the Middle East conflict. The announcement pushed oil prices lower and helped stabilize global bond markets after a sharp selloff.
Trump stated that Washington paused military action to allow negotiations with Tehran to continue after Iran reportedly delivered a new peace proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. He also expressed optimism that the United States could secure a nuclear agreement preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Despite the temporary relief, market sentiment remained fragile following a recent drone attack in the United Arab Emirates, which heightened concerns over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. Analysts noted that investors remain skeptical until shipping traffic in the region returns to normal.
Brent crude oil futures dropped more than 2% to $109.41 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 1.3% to $107.25. Even with the decline, oil prices remain significantly above pre-conflict levels, fueling ongoing inflation concerns worldwide.
Asian equities showed mixed performance, with Japan’s Nikkei index gaining 1%, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 2%. MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan declined 0.22%. U.S. futures were also subdued ahead of Nvidia’s highly anticipated earnings report, which investors view as a key test for the artificial intelligence-driven stock rally.
Meanwhile, bond markets found some relief as falling oil prices eased inflation fears. U.S. Treasury yields pulled back slightly from recent highs, while Japanese government bond yields also retreated after surging in previous sessions.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar remained strong against the Japanese yen, trading near 159 yen, increasing speculation about possible intervention from Japanese authorities. Gold prices edged lower as higher bond yields reduced demand for the safe-haven asset.
