US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Holds Firm, Yen Near Four-Decade Low Ahead of Fed, Jobs Data 
Gold Price Holds Above $4,000 as Fed Rate Hike Expectations and U.S. Jobs Data Weigh on Market 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Talks Keep Geopolitical Risks in Focus 
U.S. Dollar Drops as Weak Jobs Data Boosts Fed Pause Bets, Yen Jumps on Intervention Talk 
Mary Daly Says AI Uncertainty Clouds Fed Rate Outlook Despite Restrictive Policy 
Denmark Central Bank Intervenes to Support Krone Peg Against Euro 
Australia Trade Balance Swings to Surprise Deficit as Imports Outpace Exports in May 
Asian Currencies Stay Under Pressure as Dollar Holds Near 13-Month High Ahead of U.S. Jobs Report 
Greece’s Bad Loan Crisis Continues to Limit Credit Access Despite Economic Recovery 
Turkey Vehicle Sales Fall 11.4% in June as Auto Market Weakens 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Supply Fears Ahead of Holiday Weekend 
New Zealand Consumer Confidence Rises in June as Inflation Expectations Ease 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady Ahead of June Jobs Report as Fed Rate Outlook Remains in Focus 
US Dollar Rises as Fed Rate Outlook Stays Hawkish, Euro Slips and Yen Near 40-Year Low 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Weak Jobs Data Lowers Fed Rate Hike Bets, Chip Stocks Tumble 
South Korean Stocks Tumble as AI Chip Selloff Hits Asian Markets 
Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 2.5% on August 13, marking its first climb above 36,000 since August 2. Technology and financial sectors drove gains, with Rakuten Group up 8.7%. Meanwhile, U.S. markets were mixed as investors anticipated critical inflation data.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Surges 2.5%, Boosted by Technology and Financial Sectors, as Asia-Pacific Markets Show Mixed Results
On August 13, markets resumed trading after a holiday, resulting in a more than 2% increase in Japan's major indexes, per CNBC.
For the first time since August 2, the benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 2.50% and surpassed 36,000. The broader Topix index experienced a 1.9% increase.
The country's technology and financial sectors were the primary drivers of the momentum, as evidenced by the 8.7% and 7.6% increases in Rakuten Group and Trend Micro, respectively.
Reuters, citing government sources, reported that the nation's parliament intends to convene a special session next week to deliberate on the Bank of Japan's decision to increase interest rates last month.
Japan's producer price index increased 3% in July compared to the previous year, a higher pace than the 2.9% increase in June.
The small-cap Kosdaq experienced a 1.58% loss, while South Korea's Kospi experienced a 0.17% decline.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 index increased by 0.10%. In contrast to expectations of a 0.9% increase, wages in Australia increased at a slower rate of 0.8% in the quarter ending in June, the slowest pace since the same quarter a year prior. On an annual basis, wages increased by 4.1%.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong increased by 0.10%, while the CSI 300 in mainland China declined by 0.21%.
Singapore's Q2 GDP Rises 2.9%, Strengthening Key Sectors as U.S. Markets Brace for Inflation Data
Singapore reported a 2.9% increase in its economy from the previous year's second quarter in Southeast Asia, consistent with the advanced gross domestic product estimate released in July. The Ministry of Trade and Industry identified the wholesale trade, finance, and insurance sectors and the information and communication sectors as areas of strength. The city-state also stated that it anticipates a 2% to 3% increase in GDP in 2024, as opposed to its previous projection of 1% to 3%.
As investors anticipated critical inflation data, U.S. markets experienced a turbulent overnight.
The Nasdaq Composite, dominated by technology, closed at 16,780.61 after a 0.21% increase, with shares of Nvidia surging 4%. The S&P 500 remained unchanged at 5,344.39. Conversely, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a 140-point decline, or 0.36%, to conclude at 39,357.01.
On August 14, traders eagerly anticipate the July consumer price index, a critical indicator of the health of the U.S. economy. Investors will scrutinize the data for any indications that the Federal Reserve may commence reducing rates in September.
