Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Dollar Eases as Middle East Conflict, Fed Outlook and Japan Pension Policy Drive FX Markets 
South Korea Central Bank Set to Raise Interest Rates as Inflation Stays Elevated 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Singapore GDP Grows 5.7% in Q2 2026 as AI-Driven Manufacturing Boosts Economy 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Fall as US-Iran Conflict, Rising Oil Prices Fuel Fed Rate Concerns 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Weaken as Stronger Dollar Weighs, Yen Supported by GPIF Repatriation Hopes 
Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Wednesday after weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation data eased expectations of a near-term Federal Reserve interest rate hike, although escalating tensions in the Middle East capped broader gains across the region.
U.S. stock index futures also moved higher during Asian trading after Wall Street closed in positive territory overnight, supported by lower Treasury yields and renewed strength in technology stocks.
Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1%, while the broader TOPIX index added 0.5%. South Korea led regional markets, with the KOSPI surging nearly 6% as semiconductor stocks rallied sharply. SK Hynix jumped almost 13% after strong gains in its U.S.-listed shares, while Samsung Electronics climbed about 8% following reports that the company had reviewed plans for a potential U.S. listing.
Investor sentiment improved after data showed U.S. consumer prices fell 0.4% in June, marking the first monthly decline since the pandemic. Core inflation remained at 2.6%, below market expectations, prompting traders to scale back bets on a Federal Reserve rate increase this month.
However, gains were limited by geopolitical concerns after President Donald Trump warned of further military action against Iran and maintained a U.S. blockade on Iranian-linked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices remained near one-month highs, raising concerns that higher energy costs could reignite inflationary pressures.
Chinese markets underperformed after the country's second-quarter economic growth missed expectations. The Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 both slipped 0.3%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 1.5%.
China's economy expanded 4.3% year-over-year in the April-June quarter, slowing from 5.0% in the previous quarter and falling short of the expected 4.5% growth. June data showed industrial output and retail sales exceeded forecasts, but fixed-asset investment declined 5.7% in the first half, while property investment dropped 18%, highlighting ongoing weakness in the real estate sector.
Elsewhere, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3%, Singapore's Straits Times Index advanced 1.2%, and India's Nifty 50 futures traded little changed as investors balanced improving inflation expectations against lingering geopolitical risks.
