China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian stock markets mostly declined on Monday as renewed trade tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump reignited global risk aversion. Investor sentiment weakened after Trump announced potential tariffs of up to 25% on several major European economies, tying the duties to demands that Greenland be sold to the United States. The comments sparked concerns over escalating trade tensions and broader geopolitical instability, pressuring equities across the region.
Japanese stocks led losses, with the Nikkei 225 falling around 1% and the TOPIX declining 0.5%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.8%, while Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 0.4%. Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.5%, and futures for India’s Nifty 50 pointed to a weaker open, down about 0.4%. Asian markets largely mirrored declines in Wall Street futures, as S&P 500 futures fell as much as 1% during Asian trading hours, even as U.S. cash markets remained closed for a public holiday.
Chinese stocks were comparatively resilient after economic data showed better-than-expected fourth-quarter growth. China’s GDP expanded 4.5% year-on-year in the December quarter, meeting expectations and bringing full-year 2025 growth to 5%, in line with Beijing’s official target. Strength in exports and ongoing government stimulus helped support manufacturing activity, though fixed asset investment and retail sales data highlighted lingering weaknesses in domestic demand. As a result, the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite traded largely flat.
South Korean stocks outperformed regional peers, with the KOSPI rising more than 1%, driven by gains in semiconductor shares. Samsung Electronics climbed nearly 2%, while SK Hynix edged higher after Micron Technology announced a $1.8 billion deal to acquire a semiconductor facility from Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. Powerchip shares surged 10% in Taipei, boosting sentiment across parts of the chip sector.
Trump’s tariff rhetoric added to already elevated global tensions, pushing investors toward safe-haven assets. Gold prices surged to record highs as market participants reduced exposure to risk assets amid fears of prolonged trade disputes and geopolitical conflict.
