Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Asian stock markets and U.S. futures rose on Friday amid renewed optimism over potential U.S.-China trade talks, offsetting investor concerns following weak earnings from Apple and Amazon. China’s commerce ministry said Washington had shown interest in tariff negotiations, and Beijing was open to talks—provided the U.S. “shows sincerity.”
The news helped U.S. stock futures rebound, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6% and Nasdaq futures rising 0.3%. Japan’s Nikkei gained 1% on yen weakness, while Taiwan’s market surged 2%. MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan climbed 0.4%.
Markets were rattled earlier in the week as Apple trimmed its share buybacks and warned tariffs could cost $900 million this quarter. Amazon also missed expectations. However, upbeat earnings from Microsoft and Meta offered some relief, signaling parts of the tech sector may weather trade headwinds.
Global sentiment has been volatile due to President Donald Trump’s unpredictable tariff measures. Recent data showed the U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years, while Chinese factory activity posted its sharpest contraction in over a year.
Economists warn that rising consumer prices from tariffs could trigger a recession if spending slows. Commonwealth Bank’s Joseph Capurso noted a downturn is not the base case but remains a risk.
Currency markets saw the yen weaken to 145.62 per dollar after the Bank of Japan held rates steady and trimmed its growth outlook. The U.S. dollar index hit 100.14, its strongest level since February, ahead of April’s nonfarm payroll report, which is expected to show 130,000 new jobs.
Gold dipped to $3,234.9 per ounce on weaker safe-haven demand, while oil rose after Trump threatened secondary sanctions on Iran. Brent gained 0.56%, and WTI crude climbed 0.6%.
