Asian Currencies Strengthen as Indian Rupee and Australian Dollar Rally 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Gold and Asian Stocks Rebound as Market Volatility Eases and Global Sentiment Improves 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
Indian Rupee Strengthens Sharply After U.S.-India Trade Deal Announcement 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Oil prices slipped slightly in Asian trading on Friday as investors awaited signals from the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, while new U.S. sanctions on Iran helped limit losses.
Brent crude futures for September fell 0.2% to $68.66 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 0.2% to $65.51. Despite modest weekly gains of 1% to 2%, both benchmarks remain down double digits from the previous week’s selloff.
A stronger U.S. dollar, driven by robust nonfarm payrolls data, weighed on oil. The report dampened expectations for imminent interest rate cuts, pressuring dollar-denominated commodities like crude. Market sentiment also remains fragile due to mounting concerns over U.S. fiscal stability following the passage of a major tax and spending bill and looming trade tariff deadlines.
Attention is centered on the OPEC+ meeting this weekend. Reports suggest the alliance plans to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day in August, continuing a trend of phased production hikes. These increases aim to unwind deep supply cuts made over the past two years, as oil prices remain below key thresholds. Led by Saudi Arabia, OPEC+ also seeks to enforce compliance and address internal overproduction.
The U.S. also tightened sanctions on Iran, targeting a network smuggling Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi crude. The sanctions hit entities linked to Iraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said, as part of efforts to curb Tehran’s oil revenues and nuclear ambitions.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, following U.S. strikes on key uranium sites and Iran’s suspension of cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Nonetheless, both sides are expected to resume nuclear talks in Oslo next week.
Overall, oil markets remain volatile, influenced by geopolitical risks, production policy, and macroeconomic uncertainty.
