Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid Iran Conflict and Central Bank Decisions 
Japan's Major Companies Lead Strong Wage Growth for Fourth Consecutive Year 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision Amid Middle East Tensions 
RBA Raises Cash Rate to 4.10% in Closest Vote Since Transparent Voting Began 
U.S. Presses South Korea on Strait of Hormuz Naval Support Amid Rising Energy Tensions 
U.S.-Iran War Escalates as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Threatens Global Oil Supply 
Asian Markets Rally on AI Optimism Ahead of Fed Decision 
Taiwan Central Bank Expected to Hold Interest Rates Steady Through 2027 
Gold Prices Hold Above $5,000 as Central Bank Meetings and Iran War Stay in Focus 
U.S. Futures Slip After Wall Street Rebound as Fed Decision Looms 
Bank of Japan Governor Signals Gradual Progress Toward 2% Inflation Target 
U.S. Dollar Slips as Iran War and Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Bank of Japan Holds Rates Steady Amid Iran War Inflation Fears 
Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Eyes Helium Supply Risks Amid Middle East Conflict 
Global Markets on Edge as Gulf Tensions Push Oil Prices Higher 
U.S.-Iran War Pushes Brent Crude Back Above $100 as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Persist 
Dollar Steadies as Oil Pullback Lifts Risk Sentiment Before Central Bank Decisions 
Asian markets surged Thursday as positive earnings and easing trade tensions boosted risk sentiment. Japan’s Topix index reached a record high, tracking Wall Street’s gains after Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) beat earnings estimates, sparking optimism for the “Magnificent Seven” tech results driving U.S. markets.
The rally followed a U.S.-Japan trade pact that fueled speculation of more agreements to mitigate tariffs. The United States recently secured trade deals with the Philippines and Indonesia, while a U.S.-EU agreement imposing 15% tariffs on select European imports and exempting others is reportedly nearing completion. Additionally, U.S. and Chinese officials are set to meet in Stockholm next week to discuss trade.
Second-quarter earnings season in the U.S. is underway, with 23% of S&P 500 companies reporting so far; 85% have exceeded Wall Street forecasts, according to LSEG data. Alphabet highlighted soaring demand for its cloud services and announced increased capital spending, while Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) reported its steepest sales decline in over a decade, missing profit expectations.
MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.3%, while Japan’s Topix advanced 1.4%. The Australian dollar, viewed as a risk proxy, climbed to $0.66, its highest level since November 2024. The U.S. dollar slipped 0.1% to 146.38 yen.
Commodities also gained: U.S. crude rose 0.4% to $65.5 per barrel, and spot gold edged up 0.1% to $3,390.84 an ounce. European futures mirrored the bullish sentiment, with Euro Stoxx 50 and German DAX futures up 1.3%, while U.S. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures added 0.13% and 0.4%, respectively, signaling continued global market momentum.
