Japan Regional Bank Stocks Drop After Zentoshin Bankruptcy Sparks Credit Risk Concerns 
Japan Revises Economic Blueprint to Reassure Markets on BOJ Independence 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Samsung, AI Chip Stocks Trigger Market Sell-Off 
Oil and LNG Tankers Turn Back as Strait of Hormuz Security Risks Escalate 
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China 618 Smartphone Sales Drop 13% as Higher Prices Hurt Demand, Huawei Gains Market Share 
Bernstein Raises 2026 Nickel Price Forecast as Indonesia Tightens Supply 
Oil Prices Jump as Middle East Tensions Shake Markets, AI Rally Loses Steam 
Asian Stocks Slip as Iran Tensions, Samsung Weakness and Fed Caution Weigh on Markets 
US Back-to-School Spending Seen Falling as Families Focus on Essentials 
RBNZ Raises Interest Rates to 2.50%, Signals More Tightening as Inflation Risks Persist 
Asian Currencies Slip as Stronger US Dollar, Iran Tensions Pressure Regional FX 
Germany Seen Gaining as U.S. China-Built Ship Fees Reshape Trade 
China Inflation Cools in June as Producer Prices Hit Four-Year High 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar, Fed Rate Outlook Weigh on Bullion 
Iran Targets U.S. Bases in Bahrain, Kuwait as Hormuz Conflict Escalates and Oil Prices Jump 
Gold Price Rebounds as U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Minutes Keep Markets on Edge 
The U.S. dollar edged lower on Thursday after the Federal Reserve’s June meeting minutes appeared less hawkish than investors had anticipated, although escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East limited the currency’s losses.
The U.S. Dollar Index slipped 0.1% following a volatile overnight session. While renewed U.S. military action against Iran initially boosted demand for the safe-haven greenback, sentiment shifted after the Fed minutes revealed policymakers were divided over the need for additional interest rate hikes. Even so, the dollar remained close to its recent 13-month highs as inflation concerns continued to dominate the outlook.
Fed officials highlighted persistent inflation risks, reinforcing expectations that interest rates could remain elevated if price pressures fail to ease. Those concerns intensified after oil prices climbed sharply this week following U.S. strikes on Iran. President Donald Trump also stated that a ceasefire with Iran had ended, adding to uncertainty in global financial markets.
In Asia, the Chinese yuan strengthened modestly, with the USD/CNY pair falling about 0.1% after mixed June inflation data. China’s consumer price index rose 1.0% year-over-year, below the expected 1.1% and slower than May’s 1.2%, signaling continued softness in consumer demand. However, producer price inflation accelerated to a four-year high of 4.1% as higher energy and commodity costs, driven by Middle East supply disruptions, pushed up input prices.
Analysts at ING said China’s inflation remains low enough to allow the People’s Bank of China to ease monetary policy if necessary, although lower interest rates could weigh on the yuan. Even so, the bank expects only limited downside for the Chinese currency in the coming months.
Elsewhere, the Japanese yen remained under pressure, with USD/JPY hovering near its weakest level in roughly four decades despite a slight decline on the day. Traders continued to monitor the risk of intervention after repeated warnings from Japanese officials. The euro and British pound each gained around 0.2% against the dollar, while the Australian dollar edged higher and South Korea’s won traded little changed amid ongoing volatility in regional equity markets.
