Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
The U.S. dollar edged lower on Thursday, retreating from a two-week high against major currencies, as markets shrugged off President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats. Risk sentiment held strong, with investors buoyed by optimism that the most severe trade tensions may be avoided.
The Brazilian real was an outlier, plunging as much as 2.8% overnight to 5.6047 per dollar after Trump proposed a 50% tariff on the country—citing both trade concerns and the treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial for attempting to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election results.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields declined sharply after a robust 10-year note auction, adding pressure on the dollar and calming fears of a broad “Sell America” trend seen earlier in the year. The dollar index dipped 0.1% to 97.286, following a 0.2% drop on Wednesday.
Market enthusiasm extended to equities and crypto. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) became the first company to hit a $4 trillion valuation, and bitcoin surged to a record high of $111,988.90 before settling around $111,114. Analysts see potential gains toward $120,000 as investor risk appetite grows.
Federal Reserve minutes also bolstered sentiment, showing most policymakers anticipate rate cuts later this year.
In currency markets, the euro rose 0.2% to $1.1747, sterling climbed to $1.3612, the dollar fell 0.3% to 145.84 yen, and slipped 0.3% against the Swiss franc to 0.7922.
While Trump’s letters to trade partners reiterated earlier tariff proposals, countries like India, the EU, and Taiwan were notably absent, raising speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations. A potential trade deal with India appears imminent, with the EU also nearing an agreement.
