South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
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 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
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 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
The dollar struggled to recover on Tuesday after sharp losses, as confusion over the Sino-U.S. trade war continued to unsettle markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the onus was on China to de-escalate tariffs, contrasting President Trump’s claims of progress with Beijing’s denials. Investors, seeking safe havens, sold off the dollar, pushing it down sharply against the yen and Swiss franc on Monday.
The U.S. currency edged up 0.11% to 142.19 yen and rose 0.18% against the franc to 0.8217 but remained well below previous levels. Sentiment improved slightly after news that Trump’s administration plans to ease the impact of automotive tariffs.
Despite limited evidence of meaningful progress, both Washington and Beijing showed signs of softening, with China exempting some U.S. goods from high tariffs. However, analysts remain skeptical. Carol Kong of Commonwealth Bank of Australia noted that chaotic U.S. tariff policies are damaging confidence, warning that a prolonged trade war is likely.
Meanwhile, the euro slipped 0.15% to $1.1404 but stayed on track for its strongest monthly gain against the dollar in nearly 15 years. Sterling hovered near a three-year high at $1.3427. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar steadied at 99.079.
Investors are bracing for key U.S. economic data this week, including Friday’s jobs report and core PCE inflation data. Weak data could further erode the dollar’s safe-haven appeal, with Kong suggesting the greenback is increasingly behaving like a risk currency.
The Canadian dollar held at C$1.3837 as voters awaited election results heavily influenced by Trump's tariff policies. The Australian dollar slipped 0.02% to $0.6431, while the New Zealand dollar fell 0.27% to $0.59635.
