Asian Stocks Mixed as South Korea Slides on Profit-Taking, Japan and China Gain on Strong Factory Data 
Central Banks Eye Gold, Reduce Dollar Exposure as AI Adoption Accelerates: OMFIF Survey 
RBA Minutes Signal Australia Central Bank Remains Ready to Raise Interest Rates if Inflation Persists 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady Ahead of June Jobs Report as Fed Rate Outlook Remains in Focus 
Gold Price Hits Annual Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets and Sticky Inflation Weigh on Bullion 
U.S. Stocks End Q2 Higher as Strong Jobs Data and AI Rally Lift Wall Street 
US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
Asian Currencies Stay Under Pressure as Dollar Holds Near 13-Month High Ahead of U.S. Jobs Report 
Wall Street Futures Rise Ahead of JOLTS Data, Nike Earnings, and U.S.-Iran Talks 
South Korea Warns Won Is Undervalued, Boosts FX Coordination With Japan 
UK House Prices Hold Steady in June as Annual Growth Misses Forecasts 
India Manufacturing PMI Slows in June as Demand Weakens Despite Lower Cost Pressures 
Oil Prices Slip as Iran Talks and Strong Supply Outlook Ease Market Concerns 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Talks Keep Geopolitical Risks in Focus 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Holds Firm, Yen Near Four-Decade Low Ahead of Fed, Jobs Data 
Turkey Vehicle Sales Fall 11.4% in June as Auto Market Weakens 
Gold Price Drops to Eight-Month Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion. Source: Photo by Michael Steinberg via Pexels 
Asian Stocks Mixed as U.S. Treasury Yields Rise
Asian stocks performed mixed on Wednesday, as rising U.S. Treasury yields and uncertainty around the upcoming U.S. presidential election kept investors cautious. Most regional markets followed a flat lead from Wall Street, which saw mixed corporate earnings and subdued optimism.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index Surges on IPO Strength
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index led the region, rising 1.7%. The market was buoyed by a strong debut from China Resources Beverage, which saw its shares soar by 14%. The company raised $540 million in its IPO, marking Hong Kong’s second-largest IPO of the year. This followed Horizon Robotics, which raised $696 million earlier in the week, fueling optimism about a recovery in Hong Kong's IPO market after a prolonged slump.
Chinese Markets Extend Gains on Stimulus Measures
China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indexes rose 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively, as Beijing's recent stimulus measures boosted investor sentiment. A surprise interest rate cut from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) on Monday and expectations of further liquidity injections helped support Chinese stocks.
Other Asian Markets Struggle for Direction
Elsewhere, Japan's Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices remained flat amid anticipation of a general election and an upcoming Bank of Japan meeting. Australia’s ASX 200 and South Korea's KOSPI also saw minimal movement, while India's Nifty 50 futures pointed to a weak open due to profit-taking and capital outflows.
