Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Supply Concerns 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Japan Manufacturing Growth Accelerates in June as Orders Surge Despite Iran War Cost Pressures 
Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
New Zealand Fast-Tracks Gold Mining as Industry Revival Gains Momentum 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
France Faces Long Road to Economic Rebalancing as Weak Demand and High Rates Weigh, Says Citi 
US Dollar Hits One-Year High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Overshadows Middle East Developments 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Rebounds Amid Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Yen Near 40-Year Low as USD/JPY Approaches Key 162 Level, Raising Intervention Concerns 
Gold Price Rises as Investors Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks and Fed Policy Outlook 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
US Stock Futures Recover as Iran Signals Progress in Peace Talks 
The U.S. dollar hovered near a three-month low on Wednesday as escalating trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment. U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China took effect, prompting retaliatory measures. The euro surged to a near four-month peak at $1.0637 after Germany announced a 500-billion-euro infrastructure fund. Sterling also held firm near a three-month high at $1.2786.
China’s yuan remained steady in offshore trading following a 0.7% rally, as Beijing reaffirmed its 5% economic growth target at the National People’s Congress. Meanwhile, crude oil hit a six-month low, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) falling 0.6% to $67.83. Bitcoin stabilized at around $87,000 after a volatile week.
Asian markets saw mixed movements. Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 0.9%, while Japan’s Nikkei slipped 0.2% after early gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng futures pointed to a 0.6% rise. In the U.S., the S&P 500 fell 1.2% overnight, but futures rebounded 0.6%. MSCI’s world equity index inched up 0.1% but was still down 1.9% for the week.
“The uncertainty is keeping investors cautious,” said Kyle Rodda, senior financial markets analyst at Capital.com. “American businesses and consumers are likely feeling the same.”
The U.S. dollar index was steady at 105.60, recovering from a 1.9% two-day slump that pushed it to 105.49, its lowest since December 6. China’s offshore yuan slipped 0.1% to 7.2604 per dollar.
Germany’s proposed infrastructure fund and eased borrowing rules signal economic shifts, while global markets remain on edge amid ongoing trade conflicts.
