Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
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 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian markets traded mixed on Thursday as investor caution persisted amid ongoing uncertainty over U.S. trade tariffs and interest rate outlooks. Chipmaking stocks led losses, with attention centered on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which is set to report second-quarter earnings later today.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3%, while the TOPIX index was flat. Trade data showed continued weakness in exports due to U.S. tariffs on steel and automobiles. South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 0.4%, weighed down by a sharp 8% plunge in SK Hynix after a downgrade from Goldman Sachs. Samsung Electronics bucked the trend, rising 1.7%. Japan’s Tokyo Electron and Advantest both lost around 2%, while China’s SMIC edged slightly higher.
TSMC fell 0.9% in Taiwan trade ahead of its earnings release. Investors are focused on guidance updates amid U.S. tariff risks and currency volatility, despite expectations of strong AI-driven performance.
ASML’s cautious 2026 outlook pressured the broader chip sector, with the Dutch firm citing delayed investment decisions due to trade tensions, even as AI demand boosted Q2 bookings.
In Australia, the ASX 200 surged 0.7%, nearing record highs. Weaker-than-expected June jobs data fueled expectations of further rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia, boosting tech and cyclical shares. Macquarie analysts expressed a bullish outlook on Australian equities, citing global easing trends.
China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 saw modest gains, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng remained steady after recent tech-fueled rallies. Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.3% on strong June export data. Indian Nifty 50 futures were flat. U.S. S&P 500 futures edged down 0.2% in Asian trading after mixed signals from Wall Street, where bank earnings failed to offset economic concerns. Netflix is scheduled to report results later today.
