Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
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 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil prices fell slightly on Thursday as investors remained cautious amid uncertainty over U.S. involvement in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Brent crude futures declined 37 cents (0.48%) to $76.33 a barrel by 0110 GMT, following a volatile session in which prices swung by nearly 3%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July slipped 28 cents (0.37%) to $74.86, after briefly dropping 2.4% before ending 0.4% higher the previous day.
With the July WTI contract expiring Friday, the more actively traded August contract dipped 21 cents (0.29%) to $73.29.
Market analyst Tony Sycamore of IG noted that prices still reflect a risk premium as traders await clarity on whether the U.S. will strike Iran or pursue peace talks. A U.S. strike could push oil prices up by $5, while peace efforts may cause a similar decline.
President Donald Trump added to the market's uncertainty by stating he has not yet decided whether to join Israel’s missile campaign against Iran. The conflict, now in its seventh day, continues to threaten Middle Eastern energy infrastructure, particularly the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 19 million barrels per day of oil and oil products flow. Iran, OPEC’s third-largest producer, pumps around 3.3 million bpd.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday but signaled two potential rate cuts this year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the cuts would be data-driven and warned that Trump’s proposed import tariffs could fuel inflation. While lower interest rates may boost oil demand by stimulating economic activity, they also risk intensifying inflationary pressures, adding another layer of complexity for energy markets.
