Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Asian stock markets climbed on Friday, mirroring Wall Street gains, as expectations of multiple U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts lifted investor sentiment worldwide. Lower borrowing costs are seen as a major relief for global bond markets, while the U.S. dollar eased slightly.
Indexes in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan hit record highs, supported by optimism around artificial intelligence earnings. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.6% for the day and 3.7% for the week, while South Korea jumped 1.1%, adding more than 5% weekly. Chinese blue chips reached their strongest levels since early 2022, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan gained 1.2%.
The latest U.S. inflation data showed consumer prices staying moderate, reinforcing expectations of policy easing. Analysts at Citi now forecast core PCE inflation holding at 2.9% in August, supporting their outlook for 125 basis points of Fed cuts over the next five meetings. Markets are pricing in a 100% chance of a September cut to 4.00%-4.25%, with a strong likelihood of additional reductions this year. U.S. Treasury yields fell 20 basis points in two weeks, easing mortgage rates and boosting risk appetite.
European shares also rallied, with EUROSTOXX 50, FTSE, and DAX futures up 0.3%. The European Central Bank kept rates unchanged, calling policy “in a good place.” Analysts at JPMorgan expect a possible cut in December, though markets see limited odds of further easing.
In currency trade, the dollar held at 147.23 yen, while the euro firmed near $1.1730. Gold stayed steady at $3,633 an ounce, just below record highs. Oil prices weakened, with Brent at $66.09 and U.S. crude at $62.07, after the IEA warned of a record surplus in 2025 as OPEC output rises.
