US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
Nikkei Hits Record High as AI Chip Stocks Power Japan Market Rally 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
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.
