Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Russia’s stock market ended Saturday’s session flat, with the MOEX Russia Index closing unchanged at 0.00%, reflecting a day of mixed movements across major sectors. Despite the lack of overall index momentum, several notable companies stood out with solid gains, while others weighed slightly on the broader market.
Among the top performers, Surgutneftegas PJSC rose 0.44% to 20.63, continuing to show resilience amid fluctuating energy market conditions. Aeroflot PJSC also posted gains, climbing 0.38% to 50.80, supported by steady travel demand despite ongoing global uncertainties. Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) gained 0.36%, closing at 99.70, as demand for industrial metals remained stable. These increases contributed to the positive sentiment among a majority of listed companies, with 142 stocks advancing, compared to 66 declining and 23 remaining unchanged on the Moscow Exchange.
On the downside, LUKOIL PJSC slipped 0.28% to 5,100.00, while T Tekhnologii MKPAO edged down 0.20% to 2,918.20. ROSSETI PJSC also dipped slightly by 0.19%, trading at 0.06. Despite these declines, the overall market volatility remained steady, with the Russian Volatility Index (RVI) holding unchanged at 35.31, indicating stable investor sentiment.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December dropped sharply by 2.39%, reaching $4,094.20 per troy ounce, reflecting renewed strength in the U.S. dollar. Oil prices, however, moved higher, with December Crude Oil rising 2.39% to $60.09, and January Brent climbing 2.19% to $64.39, supported by expectations of tighter supply.
Currency markets also saw modest movement as the USD/RUB increased 0.19% to 80.85, and the EUR/RUB gained 0.08% to 93.96. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures rose 0.15% to 99.20, highlighting continued global demand for the greenback.
