Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
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 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Australia’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation grew less than expected in the fourth quarter, signaling a slowdown but still remaining above the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) target range.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed CPI rose 2.4% year-on-year in Q4, its slowest pace since early 2021, slightly below forecasts of 2.5% and easing from 2.8% in the prior quarter. On a quarterly basis, CPI increased 0.2%, just below expectations of 0.3%.
Trimmed mean CPI, which excludes volatile energy prices, rose 3.2% annually, slightly below estimates of 3.3% but still above the RBA’s 2%-3% target range. Monthly CPI stood at 2.5% in December, up from 2.3% in November, reflecting inflationary pressures from holiday spending.
Despite government subsidies easing energy costs, strong consumer spending on recreation and travel kept underlying inflation elevated. Australia’s robust labor market continues to support demand, preventing inflation from cooling further.
The RBA meets in mid-February, but it has provided no clear signals on rate cuts. The central bank expects inflation to return sustainably within its target only by 2026, indicating that interest rates may remain steady for now.
Markets are watching closely for RBA’s next move as inflation trends remain a key factor in its monetary policy decisions.
