Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Oil Prices Ease as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Peace Deal and Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
ASX Proposes New Share Dilution Limits for Public Takeovers 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Stocks Advance as Nikkei Nears Record High Ahead of Fed Decision 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Japan’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in May 2026, although growth slowed slightly as escalating supply-chain pressures tied to the Middle East conflict increased business costs and weighed on overall economic activity. According to the latest S&P Global flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data released Thursday, Japan’s manufacturing PMI eased to 54.5 in May from 55.1 in April, matching market expectations while remaining comfortably above the 50-point level that signals expansion.
Despite the slowdown, Japanese factories maintained solid production levels as companies increased inventory stockpiling in anticipation of potential supply shortages. Businesses expressed concerns that the ongoing Middle East conflict could further disrupt global supply chains and delay raw material deliveries, prompting manufacturers to secure additional inventories.
Meanwhile, Japan’s services sector showed signs of weakness after more than a year of uninterrupted growth. The services PMI business activity index dropped to 50.0 in May from 51.0 in April, indicating stagnant conditions across the sector. Analysts noted that rising operational costs, higher import prices, and weaker consumer demand contributed to the slowdown in service-related activity.
The broader composite PMI, which combines both manufacturing and services performance, fell to 51.1 from the previous month’s 52.2. The reading marked the slowest pace of private-sector expansion in five months, reflecting growing economic pressure on businesses.
S&P Global reported that input costs surged at the fastest rate since late 2022 due to supply disruptions and rising commodity prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. In response, Japanese companies raised selling prices at the sharpest pace recorded since the survey began nearly 19 years ago.
Economists warn that persistent inflationary pressure and geopolitical uncertainty could continue to challenge Japan’s economic recovery in the coming months.
