Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
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 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Oil prices hit a near three-month low in Asian trading on Tuesday as fears of economic disruptions from U.S. trade tariffs and rising OPEC+ production weighed on the market. Brent crude futures fell 0.8% to $71.07 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 0.7% to $67.64 per barrel.
Investor sentiment weakened after U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%, with additional 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to take effect. The move sparked concerns about slowing global trade, potentially dampening oil demand, especially from China, the world’s top oil importer. Market jitters were further fueled by expectations of retaliatory measures from China, intensifying the trade conflict.
Adding to the pressure, OPEC+ confirmed it will proceed with its planned oil production increase in April, despite Trump’s push to stabilize prices. The cartel’s output hike, estimated at 138,000 barrels per day, is relatively small compared to the 5.8 million bpd cuts since 2022 but still signals looser supply conditions. This comes at a time when global oil demand is already softening due to economic slowdowns and inflation concerns.
Despite rising geopolitical tensions, including an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war and the U.S. halting military aid to Ukraine, oil markets largely overlooked these risks. The focus remains on trade uncertainties and increasing supply, which could keep prices under pressure in the near term.
With trade wars intensifying and OPEC+ supply set to rise, oil markets face heightened volatility, keeping investors cautious.
