Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian stock markets traded mostly lower on Tuesday as investors weighed new U.S. diplomatic moves in the region and awaited key central bank decisions later this week. Wall Street’s major indexes hit record highs overnight, boosted by strong gains in the tech sector, while U.S. stock futures held steady during Asian trading hours.
In Tokyo, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, to discuss defense cooperation, trade, and a $550 billion U.S. investment package unveiled earlier this year. The plan targets joint projects in infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced technology. Despite optimism surrounding the meeting, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4% after reaching an all-time high of 50,549.60 points in the previous session, while the broader TOPIX index declined 0.6%.
Investor sentiment across Asia was supported by progress in U.S.-China trade relations. Negotiators in Kuala Lumpur finalized a draft framework to avert new tariffs, which will be reviewed later this week when Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Both leaders are expected to finalize the deal’s details during the summit.
China’s Shanghai Composite and the blue-chip CSI 300 were little changed, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dipped 0.3%. South Korea’s KOSPI led regional losses, falling over 1% despite stronger-than-expected third-quarter GDP growth—the fastest pace in more than a year. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.6%, diverging from the broader regional trend. India’s Nifty 50 futures were mostly flat ahead of market open.
Attention now turns to major central bank decisions. The U.S. Federal Reserve began its two-day meeting Tuesday and is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points amid cooling inflation and labor market weakness. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is expected to maintain its current policy stance when it announces its decision Wednesday, as internal divisions remain but have not shifted the board’s majority outlook.
