Asian Stocks Mixed as RBA Holds Rates, Oil Risks Rise 
Canada, US Hold Fresh Trade Talks as August 19 Tariff Deadline Nears 
South Korean Won Leads Asian FX Losses as Dollar Rises 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Rise as Iran Risks and CPI Loom 
Australia Housing Crisis Deepens as Worker Shortages Delay Homebuilding 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Talks Stall, Inflation Risks Grow 
Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Reopening Remains Uncertain 
Singapore Raises 2026 GDP Growth Forecast as AI Demand Fuels Economy 
U.S. Stock Futures Flat Ahead of July CPI Data 
Dollar Steady as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Steady Ahead of US CPI as Oil Prices Rise 
The Malaysian ringgit is expected to remain under pressure to weaken from medium-term perspective as the current account surplus is likely to shrink over the coming years, according to the latest research report from Commerzbank.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed the first budget report under the administration of 93 years old PM Mahathir, which gives a clear signal that the government is committed to delivering a decent growth.
The government aggressively revised up the budget deficit to 3.7 percent of GDP, from the initial estimation of 2.8 percent. While the government projects a slightly lower budget deficit for 2019 to 3.4 percent of GDP, the fiscal deficits for 2018 and 2019 will be a notch higher than the levels seen in 2015 to 2017 that is around 3.0 percent, indicating that the expansionary fiscal policy is on the way, the report added.
