Japan Trade Deficit Widens as Imports Surge on Energy and AI Demand 
Oil Prices Ease as US-Iran Tensions Keep Brent on Track for Weekly Gain 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Weakens After Treasury Bond Buybacks 
US Treasury Doubles Long-Term Bond Buybacks as Yields Surge 
South Korea Producer Prices Fall 0.4% in July 
Gold Holds Above $4,500 as Dollar Weakens 
Trump Says Iran Talks Halted as Strait of Hormuz Dispute Fuels Oil Concerns 
Trump Eyes 15% Tariff on Canadian Auto Imports in New Trade Deal 
UK Inflation Rises to 2.9% in July as Energy Costs Climb 
Gold Holds Near Two-Month High as Treasury Yields Fall 
U.S. Public Debt Tops $40 Trillion for First Time 
Australia Unemployment Rate Hits 4.5% as Jobs Fall in July 
India PMI Rises as Services Offset Manufacturing Slowdown 
Wall Street Gains as Treasury Yields Fall, Fed Minutes Signal Inflation Risks 
Oil Prices Rise as Trump Threatens Tougher Iran Economic Measures 
Asian Currencies Rise as Dollar Hovers Near Multi-Month Lows 
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Asian stocks moved broadly higher on Friday, led by a rebound in South Korean technology shares, although rising U.S. Treasury yields and elevated oil prices kept several major regional markets on track for weekly losses.
South Korea’s KOSPI gained nearly 1% as investors returned to semiconductor stocks following recent volatility. SK Hynix climbed about 3% on Friday and was up roughly 7% for the week, while Samsung Electronics remained around 2% higher on a weekly basis. Sentiment was supported by SK Hynix’s 40 trillion-won share buyback and reports that Samsung could prepare a shareholder-return package worth as much as 110 trillion won.
Despite Friday’s recovery, the KOSPI remained about 1% lower for the week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell roughly 0.8% and was headed for a weekly decline of around 4.4%. Japan’s July core inflation accelerated 1.8% year over year, strengthening expectations that the Bank of Japan could raise interest rates as early as September.
Hong Kong outperformed, with the Hang Seng Index gaining about 3% for the week. Alibaba shares fell around 3% after quarterly profit plunged more than 75%, while capital spending jumped 75% to nearly $10 billion as the company accelerated investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Henderson Land advanced more than 7% following upbeat first-half results.
Global bond markets remained a key concern. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield returned to around 4.7%, while the 30-year yield approached 5.3%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said government bond buybacks could eventually exceed the planned $4 billion per operation, but investors remained concerned about the U.S. fiscal deficit and rising interest costs.
Oil prices added to inflation worries as Middle East tensions persisted. Brent crude reached a one-month high of $94.71 before easing to about $93.12, leaving prices more than 5% higher for the week.
Elsewhere, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite gained 0.5%, China’s CSI 300 rose 0.5%, India’s Nifty 50 edged higher, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.4%. Investors are now watching Nvidia earnings and the Jackson Hole symposium for fresh signals on technology stocks and U.S. monetary policy.
