Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
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 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Asian markets edged higher on Tuesday as investors focused on U.S. trade talks, inflation data, and corporate earnings. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan gained 0.4%, while Japan's Nikkei added 0.2%. Optimism was supported by Nvidia’s (NASDAQ: NVDA) plan to resume sales of its H20 AI chips in China, boosting Nasdaq futures by 0.5%.
The dollar held recent gains, trading at 147.62 yen, near a three-week high. The euro rebounded 0.1% to $1.1680 after a four-day slide. U.S. crude slipped 0.5% to $66.63 per barrel as President Donald Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum for Russia to end the Ukraine war or face expanded energy sanctions. Gold rose 0.6% to $3,363.40 per ounce, and silver hit a new high, trading at $38.25.
Trump also hinted at tariff flexibility following threats of imposing 30% duties on the EU and Mexico by August 1. The European Union warned of countermeasures, while Japan seeks high-level trade talks with the U.S. this Friday. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, facing an election challenge, is expected to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo.
In economic news, China’s Q2 slowdown was less severe than expected, signaling resilience amid tariffs. Japanese 10-year bond yields hit 1.595%, the highest since 2008, on political and economic uncertainty.
U.S. earnings season begins this week, with bank results closely watched. S&P 500 Q2 earnings are forecast to rise 5.8% year-over-year, down from 10.2% in April. Investors await U.S. June inflation data for further policy cues. Euro Stoxx 50, DAX, and FTSE futures were modestly higher, indicating a positive European open.
