South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
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 
Japan’s unemployment rate edged up to 2.5% in January from 2.4% in December, according to government data released on Tuesday. The figure slightly exceeded economists’ median forecast of 2.4%, signaling subtle shifts in the nation’s labor market.
Despite the uptick in unemployment, the jobs-to-applicants ratio improved to 1.26 in January from 1.25 in the previous month, surpassing expectations. A higher ratio indicates increased job opportunities relative to job seekers, reflecting ongoing labor demand.
Japan’s labor market remains relatively tight, supported by sustained economic activity. However, factors such as demographic challenges and global economic uncertainties continue to influence employment trends. Analysts will be closely monitoring upcoming data to assess labor market stability in the coming months.
