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 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian stocks saw modest gains on Thursday, with Japan leading the region on renewed hopes of U.S. trade dialogue. Investors remained cautious, reassessing optimism over a potential de-escalation in the U.S.-China trade war after mixed signals from Washington.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose nearly 1%, while the TOPIX added 0.8%, driven by reports that Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa will visit the U.S. for further trade talks. Automakers rallied after the Financial Times reported that Trump may exclude auto parts from a proposed 25% tariff. Toyota surged over 5% on this news and its U.S. plant expansion plans, while Honda gained 2%. Nintendo also jumped more than 5%, boosted by strong demand for its upcoming Switch 2 console.
Elsewhere, Asian markets reflected Wall Street's overnight gains following Trump’s hints at reducing tariffs on China and softening criticism of the Federal Reserve. However, skepticism lingered as Trump emphasized that any progress would require initiative from Beijing, a move Chinese officials have yet to signal. U.S. futures inched higher in early Asian trading.
China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite both rose 0.5%, while the Hang Seng dipped 0.4% amid profit-taking in internet stocks. Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.6%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged up 0.3%. Indian futures suggested a weak open, as investors monitored geopolitical tensions after a terrorist attack in Kashmir.
South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.6% following disappointing Q1 GDP data, which showed a 0.2% quarter-on-quarter contraction due to export disruptions from U.S. trade policies. This overshadowed strong earnings from chipmaker SK Hynix, whose shares slipped slightly despite continued AI-driven demand.
