BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian equities mostly drifted lower on Thursday as traders weighed a fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire against the fast-approaching July 9 U.S. tariff deadline. Profit-taking and caution overshadowed Wall Street’s recent strength, even as tech optimism lifted Japanese stocks.
South Korea’s KOSPI led regional losses, tumbling 2.2% after a sharp month-long advance of nearly 13%. The pullback came as investors locked in gains near a four-year high. Mainland Chinese markets also softened: the Shanghai Composite dipped 0.1% and the CSI 300 shed 0.2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slid 0.5%, while Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.2%. Singapore’s Straits Times Index was little changed, and futures tracking India’s Nifty 50 held flat.
Risk appetite remained subdued despite a tentative truce between Israel and Iran, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, that helped ease supply-chain fears. Market focus has now shifted to potential retaliatory tariffs if trade talks fail to progress before the deadline, a scenario that could sap Asia’s export momentum.
Adding to uncertainty, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Congress that rate cuts will wait until officials see how tariffs affect inflation, warning that levies could drive prices higher than a simple one-off increase. His remarks reinforced a cautious tone across global markets, leaving U.S. stock-index futures flat during Asian hours.
Japan bucked the region’s downturn. The Nikkei 225 jumped 1% to a four-month peak as chip-related heavyweights tracked Nvidia’s overnight record close. Advantest climbed 3%, Tokyo Electron gained 2.6%, and SoftBank Group rallied 4.2%, pushing the broader TOPIX up 0.3%. Japan’s chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa vowed to keep negotiating with Washington, stressing that Tokyo will not accept a 25% tariff on autos.
