ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Iran Ceasefire Talks and AI Rally Boost Markets 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
Canada and Germany Advance Major LNG Supply Partnership 
UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Dow Hits Record High as Healthcare and Consumer Stocks Lead Wall Street Rally 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Asian markets fell Monday, mirroring Wall Street’s decline, as concerns over the U.S. economy intensified following a weaker-than-expected July jobs report. Investors now see a 90% chance of a September Federal Reserve rate cut, up from 40% before the data release. U.S. payroll revisions showed 290,000 fewer jobs than previously thought, with the three-month average dropping to just 35,000 from 231,000 earlier this year.
Goldman Sachs analysts noted the data signals below-potential U.S. growth. Market sentiment was further shaken by President Donald Trump’s firing of the Labor Statistics chief, raising fears over the credibility of economic data and the politicization of Fed policy. Trump will soon appoint a new Fed governor, expected to support lower interest rates.
Rate cut expectations drove U.S. two-year Treasury yields down to 3.661%, after Friday’s 25-basis-point plunge — the largest since August 2024. Futures now imply 65 basis points of easing by year-end. The dollar weakened, falling to 147.24 yen and $1.1585 per euro, as the dollar index dropped to 98.659 from last week’s 100.250 peak. Sterling traded at $1.3287 ahead of the Bank of England’s expected quarter-point cut Thursday.
In equities, S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1% and Nasdaq futures 0.2%, supported by strong earnings season results, with 63% of S&P 500 firms beating forecasts. Still, Asia lagged, with Japan’s Nikkei down 2.1% and South Korea’s KOSPI off 0.2%, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index rose 0.3%.
Commodity markets saw gold steady at $3,361 an ounce after a 2% jump Friday. Oil extended losses as OPEC+ approved a major September output hike, reversing last year’s 2.2 million bpd cuts. Brent fell 0.6% to $69.24 and U.S. crude slipped 0.6% to $66.93.
