Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
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 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
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 
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 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Asian stocks showed a mixed performance on Wednesday as uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies unsettled global markets. Equities in Australia and Malaysia led losses, while South Korean shares rebounded following a modest recovery in U.S. tech giants.
Wall Street’s major indexes extended their steepest sell-off in months on Tuesday after Trump unexpectedly raised tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports to 50%, only to revert to the original 25% hours later. The abrupt shift rattled investor confidence, fueling market volatility.
Asian markets, highly sensitive to global trade tensions, reacted negatively. As of 02:37 GMT, China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2%, while the CSI 300 lost 0.3%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index remained largely flat. Malaysia’s KLCI fell 1.5%, and the Philippines’ PSEi dropped 1.2%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tumbled 1.6% intraday, briefly entering correction territory, before trading 1.3% lower at 7,786.30. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that despite Trump’s decision to apply the 25% tariffs globally, Australia would not impose reciprocal measures.
South Korea’s KOSPI rose 1.6%, driven by strong gains in Samsung Electronics (+2.1%) and SK Hynix (+4.5%). The sector followed a rebound in U.S. tech stocks, including NVIDIA, Broadcom, and Tesla, after heavy losses earlier this week.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.3% after hitting a six-month low in the previous session, while the TOPIX gained 0.9%. India’s Nifty 50 futures edged up 0.2%.
Investors remain cautious as shifting U.S. trade policies add to global market uncertainties, affecting sentiment across Asian markets.
