Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Global financial markets ended Friday on a weaker note as major stock indexes declined, led by a sharp selloff in technology shares amid renewed skepticism over artificial intelligence investments. Rising U.S. Treasury yields and a firmer dollar further pressured equities, highlighting investor caution despite the traditionally strong year-end period for stocks.
Technology stocks were the worst-performing sector in the S&P 500, falling nearly 3% as concerns about high spending and shrinking margins in the AI and cloud computing space intensified. Shares of chipmaker Broadcom plunged more than 11% after it warned about margin pressures, while Oracle extended losses with another drop following weak forecasts and heavy investment spending. Nvidia, a key AI bellwether, also declined, reflecting broader uncertainty around the sustainability of the AI-driven rally.
Market sentiment was further weighed down by comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials who opposed this week’s interest rate cut. They emphasized that inflation remains too elevated to justify aggressive easing, pushing U.S. Treasury yields higher. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 4.19%, marking its second consecutive weekly increase, and rising yields added pressure on equity valuations.
Despite the Fed’s 25-basis-point rate cut earlier in the week, policymakers signaled a pause in further reductions, even as concerns grow about a cooling U.S. labor market. Recent jobless claims data showed the largest weekly increase in new unemployment filings in over four years, adding complexity to the outlook for monetary policy.
Global markets mirrored the cautious tone. European stocks fell, with bond yields in Germany reaching multi-year highs as investors began pricing in the possibility of future euro zone rate hikes. Currency markets saw the U.S. dollar edge higher, while sterling weakened after data showed the UK economy unexpectedly contracted. The yen remained under pressure ahead of an anticipated Bank of Japan rate hike.
Commodities also retreated, with copper sliding sharply from record highs on fears of an AI-driven demand bubble bursting. Oil prices posted a weekly decline as supply concerns outweighed geopolitical risks, underscoring the broader risk-off mood across global markets.
