Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
European stocks opened higher on Monday, buoyed by strong gains across Asian markets and optimism ahead of a busy corporate earnings week. At 07:10 GMT, Germany’s DAX jumped 1%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.5%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.4%. The positive tone follows last week’s sharp declines, when concerns over the U.S. banking sector weighed on investor sentiment. However, a rebound in U.S. regional bank shares on Friday helped restore confidence.
Asian markets provided a significant boost, led by Japan’s Nikkei 225, which surged more than 3% to a record high above 49,000 points. The rally came after reports that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party secured enough support to form a coalition government under Sanae Takaichi, who is expected to become the country’s first female prime minister. Known for her dovish fiscal stance, Takaichi is likely to prioritize government spending and resist further Bank of Japan rate hikes, with a parliamentary vote set for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, China’s economy grew 4.8% year-on-year in Q3 2025, slightly above forecasts of 4.7% but slower than the previous quarter’s 5.2% growth. The data reflects ongoing challenges from weak domestic demand, disinflation, and trade tensions with the U.S. In Europe, Germany’s producer prices fell 0.1% in September, marking a 1.7% annual decline, signaling subdued inflation pressures in the eurozone’s largest economy.
In corporate developments, luxury group Kering gained attention after announcing the €4 billion sale of its beauty division to L’Oreal, a move aimed at reducing debt and focusing on core fashion operations. Investors are also eyeing a packed week of earnings, with reports due from L’Oreal, SAP, Barclays, Heineken, Kering, Roche, Unilever, and Lloyds. On Wall Street, major companies including Tesla, Netflix, IBM, and Coca-Cola will also release results.
Oil prices edged lower amid concerns over global demand and a potential supply glut, with Brent crude falling 0.8% to $60.83 a barrel and WTI down 0.8% to $56.72. Both benchmarks have now logged three straight weeks of declines.
