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 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
The U.S. dollar continued to face pressure on Friday, hovering near six-month lows against the safe-haven yen, as markets reacted to President Donald Trump's aggressive new tariffs and braced for key U.S. economic data.
After plunging 1.9% Thursday—its sharpest drop since November 2022—the U.S. dollar index steadied, but investor sentiment remained fragile. Trump’s announcement of a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, including 20% on EU goods, 24% on Japanese products, and 54% total on Chinese imports, rattled global markets. Both China and the EU vowed retaliation, raising fears of a full-scale trade war that could tip the global economy into recession and fuel inflation.
The dollar weakened 0.15% to 145.89 yen after dropping 2.2% the previous session, touching a low not seen since early October. The euro edged up 0.08% to $1.1060, while sterling held steady at $1.3103. Offshore, the yuan eased 0.13% to 7.2686 despite China’s market holiday.
Investors now await the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, expected to show a slowdown in job growth to 135,000 in March. A weaker report could solidify expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. Traders are pricing in four quarter-point cuts this year, starting as early as June.
Yields on two-year U.S. Treasuries dropped further, slipping 6 basis points to 3.6611% after an 18-point plunge on Thursday. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is also set to speak later Friday, which could provide more insight into the central bank’s monetary policy stance.
Risk-sensitive currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars remained weak, while bitcoin climbed 0.9% to over $83,000, showing resilience amid broader market volatility.
