Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
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 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday, driven by renewed optimism over U.S.-China trade negotiations and potential easing of chip export restrictions. Investor sentiment improved after reports suggested U.S. President Donald Trump is considering lifting curbs on semiconductor exports to Beijing, a move seen as a step toward easing tensions.
S&P 500 futures gained 0.5% in Asian trade, buoyed by Trump’s comments that Monday’s trade talks went well and would continue into Tuesday. The talks, held in London, have reignited hopes that the two largest economies will deescalate their trade conflict, following a temporary truce in May.
Chinese equities edged higher, with the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite gaining 0.2% and 0.1% respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.1%. However, weak Chinese economic data—disappointing May exports and cooling inflation—tempered overall market enthusiasm.
A Wall Street Journal report said Trump authorized Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s team to negotiate easing recent tech restrictions in exchange for China scaling back rare earth export controls. China remains a dominant supplier of these critical minerals.
Broader Asian markets advanced on trade optimism and strength in U.S. tech stocks, particularly chipmakers. South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 1% to an 11-month high, extending gains after the liberal party's recent election victory. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX rose 1% and 0.5%, respectively, following strong GDP data. Australia’s ASX 200 climbed 0.8%, nearing a record peak.
Singapore’s Straits Times index was flat, while Gift Nifty 50 Futures inched up 0.1%, suggesting a positive open for Indian equities.
Investors now turn their focus to key U.S. consumer inflation data due Wednesday, which could influence future Federal Reserve policy moves.
