U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Asian stocks bounced back at the start of the month, tracking Wall Street’s strong finish last week. Investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming trade tariff decision, with uncertainty over potential tariff rates hinting at softer measures.
Major U.S. stock indexes closed higher Friday after PCE inflation data met expectations. Meanwhile, Asian stocks, which suffered steep losses in the previous session, saw strong gains Monday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 1.4%, while the TOPIX rose 1.2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 1.8%, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite gained 2.2%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.6%. South Korea’s markets were closed for a holiday.
China’s Shanghai Composite added 0.7%, with the CSI 300 rising 0.8%, supported by better-than-expected manufacturing PMI data. The Caixin manufacturing PMI hit a three-month high, signaling resilience in China’s economy amid past stimulus efforts.
Trump’s tariff decision remains a key market focus. While the U.S. previously imposed 10% additional tariffs on China, Trump is set to finalize tariff rates on Tuesday, leaving room for potential adjustments. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hinted at a possible moderation in levies, easing investor concerns.
China’s highly anticipated “Two Sessions” meetings begin this week, with investors watching for economic policy signals. The National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are expected to outline strategies to stabilize China’s economy amid slowing growth, weak consumer confidence, and a struggling property sector. Analysts predict China will maintain its 5.0% GDP target while detailing fiscal and monetary policies to support economic recovery.
Markets remain on edge as investors assess trade developments and China’s next policy moves.
