Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Japan’s exports increased for the fifth consecutive month in February, rising 11.4% year-on-year, slightly below the 12.1% market forecast but up from January’s 7.2% gain. The surge was partly driven by stockpiling as companies brace for U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies.
Exports to the U.S. climbed 10.5%, with companies like Sony (NYSE: SONY) boosting inventory in anticipation of higher tariffs. Shipments to China rose 14.1%, aided by an earlier end to the Lunar New Year holiday. Meanwhile, imports fell 0.7%, missing market expectations of a 0.1% rise, leading to a trade surplus of 584.5 billion yen ($3.91 billion), below the forecasted 722.8 billion yen.
Trump recently imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, effective last week, with auto tariffs set to follow on April 2. Japan, heavily reliant on exports, particularly automobiles, which make up 28% of the $140.56 billion in annual U.S. trade, faces growing economic uncertainty.
Concerns are mounting that Trump’s protectionist stance could trigger a global slowdown, potentially impacting Japan’s export-driven economy. However, businesses hope strong domestic wage growth will sustain consumer spending and economic stability.
The Bank of Japan is expected to maintain its 0.5% interest rate while assessing the risks posed by escalating U.S. trade tensions at its two-day policy meeting ending Wednesday.
