Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asia Stocks Slip as Iran-Hormuz Tensions Lift Oil Prices, Dollar and Bond Yields 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
South Korea Central Bank Set to Raise Interest Rates as Inflation Stays Elevated 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
South Korea’s KOSPI Triggers Trading Curb as AI Chip Stock Selloff Deepens 
Gold Prices Fall as US-Iran Conflict, Rising Oil Prices Fuel Fed Rate Concerns 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Asian stock markets declined on Thursday as investors reacted to a sharp rise in oil prices, mixed corporate earnings, and a cautious outlook from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The combination of geopolitical tensions, energy market volatility, and uncertainty over monetary policy weighed heavily on investor sentiment across the region.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.4%, while the broader TOPIX index fell 1.5%, reflecting concerns over rising energy costs and weaker manufacturing data. In China, the Shanghai Composite remained relatively stable, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined by 1.5%. Meanwhile, South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.2% after earlier hitting a record high, supported by strong earnings from Samsung Electronics.
Oil prices played a major role in market movements, with Brent crude climbing above $120 per barrel amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Reports of a potential prolonged blockade and geopolitical tensions added to uncertainty, increasing fears of sustained inflationary pressure globally.
Investor caution was further reinforced by the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged. Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that inflation risks remain elevated, particularly due to rising energy prices, signaling a continued cautious stance on monetary policy.
Technology stocks across Asia showed mixed performance, mirroring uneven reactions to earnings from major U.S. tech companies. While demand for artificial intelligence technologies remains strong, as highlighted by robust results from companies like Samsung, broader market sentiment remained fragile.
Economic indicators also painted a mixed picture. Japan’s factory output unexpectedly declined, pointing to ongoing industrial weakness, while retail sales showed resilience. In China, manufacturing activity expanded for a second consecutive month, supported by stronger export demand.
Elsewhere, India’s Nifty 50 fell 1.1%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.3%, reflecting broader regional caution. Overall, global investors remain focused on oil price trends, inflation risks, and central bank policies as key drivers of market direction.
