AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Oil prices edged higher in Asian trading on Friday after the U.S. imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian oil, but both Brent and WTI crude were set for weekly losses amid supply concerns.
Brent crude futures for May delivery rose 0.4% to $70.16 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 0.5% to $66.58 per barrel. Despite these gains, both benchmarks were on track for a 0.3% weekly decline following a more than 1% drop in the previous session, driven by trade tensions and oversupply worries.
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions targeting Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and entities linked to Iran’s “shadow fleet,” which allegedly uses deceptive tactics to evade existing oil sanctions. The move is part of Washington’s ongoing effort to curb Tehran’s oil revenues and limit its regional influence.
Oil prices also found support from softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data for February, raising hopes that the Federal Reserve may pause interest rate hikes.
Meanwhile, traders are weighing the impact of Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations, which could boost global oil supplies if successful. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts an oversupplied market by 2025, citing weakening demand growth amid escalating trade tensions.
Adding to supply pressures, OPEC+ plans to gradually roll back voluntary production cuts from April 2025. In February, the alliance's oil production rose by 363,000 barrels per day to 41.01 million bpd.
While geopolitical risks support oil prices, concerns over excess supply and slowing demand continue to pressure the market.
