Oil and LNG Tankers Turn Back as Strait of Hormuz Security Risks Escalate 
China Inflation Cools in June as Producer Prices Hit Four-Year High 
Japan Regional Bank Stocks Drop After Zentoshin Bankruptcy Sparks Credit Risk Concerns 
Gold Price Rebounds as U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Minutes Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Stocks Slip as Iran Tensions, Samsung Weakness and Fed Caution Weigh on Markets 
Asian Currencies Slip as Stronger US Dollar, Iran Tensions Pressure Regional FX 
Dollar Slips as Oil Prices Ease, Fed Rate Outlook Remains Uncertain 
US Back-to-School Spending Seen Falling as Families Focus on Essentials 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Japan Wholesale Inflation Jumps as Energy Shock Drives Import Costs Higher 
European Regulators Clash With U.S. Treasury Over Private Credit Transparency 
Bernstein Raises 2026 Nickel Price Forecast as Indonesia Tightens Supply 
Gold Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Conflict, Fed Rate Hike Bets Pressure Precious Metals 
Germany Seen Gaining as U.S. China-Built Ship Fees Reshape Trade 
Oil Prices Slip but Stay on Track for Weekly Gains as U.S.-Iran Conflict Persists 
US Stock Futures Steady as Oil Prices Ease, Iran Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Asian stock markets advanced on Friday, led by a strong rebound in semiconductor shares, as investors shifted their focus from escalating Middle East tensions to the long-term growth outlook for artificial intelligence (AI) and global chip demand.
Despite renewed conflict after fresh U.S. strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory missile and drone attacks against U.S.-aligned nations, market sentiment remained resilient. Investors continued to monitor risks to the Strait of Hormuz and global oil supplies but were encouraged by fresh signs that the AI investment cycle remains strong. U.S. futures reflected the positive mood, with Nasdaq 100 Futures rising 0.3% and S&P 500 Futures gaining 0.1% during Asian trading.
South Korea led regional gains as the KOSPI jumped 4.2%, recovering from a steep selloff that pushed the index into bear-market territory a day earlier. Samsung Electronics climbed 4.9%, while SK Hynix added 1.5% after pricing its $26.5 billion U.S. American depositary share (ADS) offering, which attracted demand more than seven times the available shares. The company’s new SKHY ticker gives U.S. investors direct exposure to one of Nvidia’s key high-bandwidth memory suppliers. SK Hynix shares remain up about 680% over the past year.
Technology sentiment also improved after Micron Technology announced plans to boost its U.S. investment to approximately $250 billion through 2035 to expand memory chip production, reinforcing confidence in AI-driven semiconductor demand.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed roughly 2%, while the TOPIX gained 0.7%, supported by reports that Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) may increase allocations to domestic equities. Murata Manufacturing rose nearly 4%, and Kioxia Holdings surged about 5.7% following Bain Capital’s exit from the memory chipmaker.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.8%, while China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite posted modest gains as investors anticipated additional policy support and upcoming economic data. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.7%, with uranium miners rallying after Australia and India agreed to strengthen cooperation on uranium exports, boosting optimism for long-term demand driven by the expanding global nuclear energy sector.
Investors are now preparing for a busy week of economic releases, including China’s GDP, trade, retail sales and industrial production data, Singapore’s advance GDP estimate, India’s inflation report, and the Bank of Korea’s policy decision, all of which could influence the next move in Asian financial markets.
