Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian stocks traded mostly lower on Tuesday as markets digested renewed U.S. political and economic uncertainty. Investor sentiment was shaken by President Donald Trump’s harsh criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, warning of a potential recession if interest rates aren’t cut. Wall Street tumbled on Monday, dragging Asian equities down, although S&P 500 futures rose 0.6% in early Asian trade on hopes of a rebound.
Caution remained high ahead of key Q1 earnings, with Tesla set to report later in the day. The ongoing U.S.-China trade war also weighed on sentiment, as Beijing warned other nations against trade deals with Washington that could harm China’s interests. The warning followed Trump’s tariff hike on Chinese goods to 145%, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% levy on U.S. imports. China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite remained flat, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 0.5%. JD.com and Meituan shares plunged over 6% on signs of intensifying food delivery competition.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.1% as exporters struggled with a seven-month-high yen. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed concerns over Trump’s 25% tariffs on foreign cars, which threaten Japan’s automotive sector. Investors also eyed possible rate hikes from the Bank of Japan after March inflation remained elevated.
Australia’s ASX 200 stayed flat ahead of PMI data, while South Korea’s KOSPI saw minor gains before its GDP release. Singapore’s Straits Times Index outperformed, climbing 1.2% as investors sought safety in bank stocks. India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to further gains after a strong previous session.
Overall, uncertainty surrounding global trade policies and monetary tightening kept Asian markets in a tight trading range.
