India to Continue U.S. Trade Talks After Trump Imposes 10% Import Tariff 
Gold Prices Rise as Weak Dollar, Fed Rate Decision in Focus 
Oil Prices Pull Back After Two-Week Rally as Middle East Supply Risks Persist 
US Dollar Posts Best Weekly Gain in Over a Month as Middle East Tensions Boost Safe-Haven Demand 
Japan Services Producer Prices Rise 3.2% in June, Supporting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Houthi Attacks on Saudi Oil Sites Raise Fears of Wider Middle East Conflict Despite U.S. Strike Pause 
Canada Opens Gordie Howe Bridge Without U.S. Officials as Trump Tariff Tensions Persist 
Trump Says No Decision on Major Iran Strikes as U.S.-Tehran Talks Intensify 
Brent Oil Holds Above $100 as Red Sea Attacks, Iran Conflict Threaten Global Supply 
European Stocks Flat as Oil Tops $100, Trump Tariffs Fuel Inflation Fears 
BOJ Expected to Hold Rates Steady While Signaling More Hikes Ahead 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Tops $100, Middle East Conflict Fuels Inflation Fears 
US Stock Futures Rally as Oil Prices Drop Ahead of Fed Meeting and Big Tech Earnings 
US-Mexico USMCA Talks Advance as Auto Rules Remain Major Sticking Point 
Oil Prices Head for Weekly Surge as Red Sea Attacks and Kazakhstan Supply Cuts Raise Disruption Fears 
BOJ Seen Holding Rates at 1% While Keeping Inflation Risk Warning 
Global Leaders Push Back as Trump Imposes New Forced Labor Tariffs 
Most Asian stock markets traded higher on Monday as easing tensions in the Middle East and a sharp decline in oil prices lifted investor sentiment ahead of a crucial week for global financial markets. Investors are closely watching upcoming central bank meetings and earnings reports from major U.S. technology companies for clues on the outlook for interest rates and artificial intelligence-driven growth.
Regional markets received additional support after U.S. stock futures advanced, with Nasdaq 100 futures climbing 1.2% and S&P 500 futures gaining 0.7% during Asian trading. Lower Brent crude prices, driven by an apparent pause in U.S.-Iran hostilities, also eased inflation concerns ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision on Wednesday.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 led regional gains with a 1.1% increase, while Japan’s TOPIX rose 1% and the Nikkei 225 added 0.4%. In Greater China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.7%, the Shanghai Composite gained 0.4%, and the CSI 300 edged up 0.3%.
Chinese markets were supported by strong performances from technology and battery stocks. Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) rallied after posting stronger first-half earnings and unveiling a new share buyback program. Meanwhile, memory chipmaker CXMT surged more than 500% in its Shanghai trading debut, highlighting continued investor enthusiasm for China’s semiconductor industry despite ongoing U.S. export restrictions.
South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 1%, making it the weakest major market in the region. However, Naver jumped nearly 8% after announcing that Nvidia would invest $1 billion through newly issued shares as part of a partnership to develop an artificial intelligence data center.
Investor attention now shifts to this week’s Federal Reserve meeting, followed by policy decisions from the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan. Markets are also awaiting earnings from Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta Platforms, which are expected to provide fresh insight into AI spending and technology sector valuations.
Elsewhere, Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged higher after the Monetary Authority of Singapore unexpectedly tightened monetary policy. Indonesia’s benchmark index gained as investors assessed the resignation of Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo, while Malaysia and the Philippines advanced. Thailand ended lower, and New Zealand posted modest gains, reflecting generally positive sentiment across Asian equity markets.
