Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Dollar Eases as Middle East Conflict, Fed Outlook and Japan Pension Policy Drive FX Markets 
Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asia Stocks Slip as Iran-Hormuz Tensions Lift Oil Prices, Dollar and Bond Yields 
Gold Prices Fall as US-Iran Conflict, Rising Oil Prices Fuel Fed Rate Concerns 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
South Korea’s KOSPI Triggers Trading Curb as AI Chip Stock Selloff Deepens 
European Stocks Slip as Middle East Tensions and Hormuz Threat Rattle Markets 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
The U.S. dollar extended its rally for a fifth consecutive session on Friday, posting its strongest weekly performance in more than nine months as investors increased expectations for further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. Rising inflation concerns, higher Treasury yields, and ongoing geopolitical tensions fueled demand for the greenback as a safe-haven asset.
The U.S. Dollar Index climbed 0.5% to 99.30 and gained 1.4% for the week after stronger-than-expected U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) data highlighted persistent inflation pressures. Analysts noted that soaring oil prices linked to the Iran conflict are significantly impacting energy and food costs, while artificial intelligence infrastructure spending is adding pressure to core inflation.
Wells Fargo economists now expect U.S. core PCE inflation, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, to peak at 3.5% in the second quarter before ending the year at 3.1%. As a result, markets increased their bets on future Fed rate hikes, with prediction platform Kalshi showing a 60% probability of a rate increase before July 2027.
Meanwhile, a sharp global bond sell-off intensified across major economies. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields reached their highest level in nearly a year, while the 30-year Treasury yield crossed the critical 5% mark for the first time since 2007. Rising bond yields in Japan and the United Kingdom also reflected growing investor concerns over persistent inflation and tighter monetary policy.
Investor sentiment was further weakened by President Donald Trump’s China visit, which concluded with limited progress on trade, artificial intelligence cooperation, and the Iran conflict. Although Trump claimed China agreed to increase purchases of U.S. oil, Boeing aircraft, and agricultural products, detailed agreements were not disclosed.
In Asia, the Indian rupee hit a record low against the U.S. dollar as rising crude oil prices, capital outflows, and concerns over India’s import costs pressured the currency. The Japanese yen and Chinese yuan also weakened against the strengthening dollar.
