S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Gold, Silver, and Platinum Rally as Precious Metals Recover from Sharp Selloff 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Asian Currencies Strengthen as Indian Rupee and Australian Dollar Rally 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
Indian Rupee Strengthens Sharply After U.S.-India Trade Deal Announcement 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Asian stock markets traded mixed on Thursday as investors braced for the upcoming U.S. tariff deadline on July 9 and digested key economic data from China and Australia. Market sentiment was cautious ahead of the U.S. jobs report, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path.
U.S. stock indexes closed higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching new record highs. However, Wall Street futures were mostly flat during Asian hours. President Donald Trump confirmed a trade deal with Vietnam, marking the third agreement ahead of the looming deadline, after similar deals with the UK and China. Trump reiterated that the July 9 deadline would not be extended, warning that nations without deals will face formal tariff notifications. However, uncertainty remains as he also threatened steep tariffs of 30–35% on Japanese imports earlier this week.
Asian markets showed a cautious tone. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX both slipped 0.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng led regional losses, falling 1.2%. In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.6%, and the Philippines’ PSEi jumped 1%. Singapore’s Straits Times Index remained flat, while India’s Nifty 50 futures edged up 0.1%.
Economic data added to market jitters. Australia’s trade surplus narrowed sharply in May to its lowest since November 2019, driven by weaker exports and recovering imports. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.6%. In China, services sector growth slowed to a nine-month low in June, signaling softer domestic demand. The Shanghai Composite dipped 0.1%, while the CSI 300 ticked up 0.2%.
Investors continue to monitor global trade developments and economic indicators for further clues on market direction.
