US Plans ‘Toughest Sanctions in History’ on Iran, Bessent Says 
Merz Pushes Faster Reforms to Revive German Economy 
South Korea Producer Prices Fall 0.4% in July 
Gold Prices Hit Three-Month High as Dollar Weakens 
Asian Stocks Rally as KOSPI, Nikkei Surge on Bond Market Relief 
China opens new Arctic trade route – but obstacles will prevent its wider use 
Iran Allows Iraqi Oil Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz 
US Treasury Doubles Long-Term Bond Buybacks as Yields Surge 
Fed Minutes Signal Rate Hikes Remain Possible as Inflation Risks Persist 
UK Budget Swings to Surprise £1.8 Billion Deficit in July 
Japan Trade Deficit Widens as Imports Surge on Energy and AI Demand 
Trump Eyes 15% Tariff on Canadian Auto Imports in New Trade Deal 
Gold Holds Above $4,500 as Dollar Weakens 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Weakens After Treasury Bond Buybacks 
Trump Vows Tougher Iran Sanctions as US Weighs New Economic Pressure 
Australia Unemployment Rate Hits 4.5% as Jobs Fall in July 
Asian Stocks Rise as Korea Tech Shares Rebound 
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Asian stock markets surged on Thursday, led by Japanese equities as investors reacted positively to signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran. Growing optimism surrounding a possible U.S.-Iran peace agreement boosted global risk sentiment, sending major Asian indexes sharply higher.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 soared nearly 6% to a record high of 62,958 points after local markets reopened from an extended holiday break. The broader TOPIX index also gained more than 3%, supported by strong performances in technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks. Investor confidence improved further after AMD posted stronger-than-expected earnings, fueling a rally in global semiconductor shares. Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group jumped over 16% amid renewed enthusiasm for AI investments.
Wall Street’s overnight gains also provided strong momentum for Asian markets. Investors welcomed reports suggesting that Washington and Tehran were nearing a diplomatic agreement that could help end the ongoing conflict. Sentiment improved further after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly paused military operations related to ship escorts in the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears of wider geopolitical disruption.
South Korean markets cooled slightly after a powerful rally earlier this year. The KOSPI slipped 0.2% on Thursday but remained the best-performing major Asian index in 2026, posting an impressive 71% year-to-date gain driven largely by semiconductor stocks.
Elsewhere in the region, Australia’s ASX 200 climbed 0.8% despite weaker-than-expected trade data showing an unexpected deficit in March. Chinese equities also advanced, with the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indexes rising around 0.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.5% thanks to strong technology shares.
Reports that the U.S. and China may include artificial intelligence discussions during an upcoming Trump-Xi summit in Beijing later this month also supported market optimism. Meanwhile, Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.3%, while India’s Nifty 50 futures edged 0.5% lower.
