Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
The dollar found safe-haven support ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's upcoming tariffs, but it remains on track for a monthly loss as investors weigh the tariff threats against a weakening U.S. growth outlook. Meanwhile, the yen is poised to close the month with a 3.6% gain, its best performance since July, due to expectations of more Bank of Japan rate hikes this year. The yen recently edged up 0.04% to 149.65 per dollar after core inflation data from Tokyo showed signs of slowing in February.
Despite inflation pressures in Japan, Rodrigo Catril from National Australia Bank suggests that while normalization is likely, the BOJ will remain cautious in the current uncertain environment. In contrast, the risk-sensitive Australian dollar dipped to a three-week low at $0.62305, losing nearly 2% for the week, though it saw a slight 0.3% gain for the month.
The euro struggled at a two-week low of $1.0389, facing a 0.6% weekly decline but still managing a modest 0.36% monthly gain. The dollar briefly rose above the 7.30 level against the yuan, with the offshore yuan last standing at 7.2966.
Trump's announcement of 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods and an additional 10% duty on Chinese imports has spooked markets, increasing risk aversion. The greenback hovers near a one-week high against a basket of currencies, with the dollar index at 107.24, but it’s set for a 1.1% monthly loss due to weaker-than-expected economic data and growing concerns over U.S. growth. The pound edged up to $1.2607, supported by expectations of fewer rate cuts from the Bank of England.
