US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Gold prices dropped to a nearly four-week low in Friday’s Asian session, weighed down by fading safe-haven demand as the Israel-Iran ceasefire held firm. Spot gold fell 1% to $3,293.79 an ounce—its lowest since June 2—while August gold futures slid 1.2% to $3,306.70. The yellow metal is poised for a weekly loss of over 2%, marking its second consecutive weekly decline and extending its drop to nearly 6% from April’s all-time high.
The retreat comes amid easing geopolitical risk after a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump appeared stable through Thursday, reducing investor appetite for gold. Focus has now shifted to the upcoming U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge—for signals on interest rate direction.
Markets anticipate a 0.1% monthly rise in both headline and core PCE readings for May. Year-over-year, headline PCE is expected to rise 2.3%, with core PCE at 2.6%, both higher than the previous year’s figures. Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently cautioned Congress against premature rate cuts, noting persistent inflationary risks, particularly from tariffs. Meanwhile, Trump criticized Powell and may appoint a replacement by September, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In broader metals markets, a stronger U.S. dollar added pressure. The dollar index rose 0.1%, making gold and other commodities more expensive for overseas buyers. Platinum futures dropped 1.3% to $1,392.00 per ounce, retreating from decade-highs but still up 32% for June. Silver futures slipped 0.6% to $36.375, while London copper futures edged down 0.2% to $9,891.15 per ton. U.S. copper futures ticked up slightly to $5.06 per pound.
