Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
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 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Global stock markets slipped on Wednesday while gold retreated sharply from its recent rally, as investors reassessed stretched valuations and booked profits. The pullback followed growing geopolitical uncertainty after the planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was postponed, while doubts lingered over a potential meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite recent conciliatory tones from Washington and Beijing, Trump added to the ambiguity, saying the meeting “maybe won’t happen.”
Gold prices tumbled more than 5% on Tuesday, marking one of the sharpest declines this year, before sliding another 0.6% to $4,098.89 per ounce. The metal had surged over 50% year-to-date, driven by safe-haven demand amid global uncertainty and expectations of U.S. rate cuts. Analysts, including Tony Sycamore from IG, attributed the sell-off to excessive speculative positioning and “FOMO-driven” buying, noting parallels with stretched valuations in tech-heavy markets such as the Nasdaq.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index dipped 0.24%, while Nasdaq futures fell 0.2% and S&P 500 futures eased 0.07%. Netflix shares plunged nearly 6% after missing quarterly earnings, while General Motors jumped 15% following an upbeat profit outlook. In Europe, futures also weakened, with the EUROSTOXX 50, FTSE, and DAX down between 0.15% and 0.5%.
Japan’s Nikkei dropped 0.9% after two days of gains fueled by optimism over fiscal stimulus under new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Analysts see “Sanaenomics” as supportive for equities through pro-growth and reform-focused policies. Meanwhile, China’s CSI300 fell 0.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.42%.
In currency markets, the yen weakened 0.8% following Takaichi’s win, while the dollar held firm. The Bank of Japan is expected to keep rates unchanged next week, and the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely anticipated to cut rates by 25 basis points. Oil prices edged higher, with Brent at $61.51 and WTI at $57.46 per barrel, as markets awaited further central bank cues amid a prolonged U.S. government shutdown.
