Asian Stocks Rise as Weak US Jobs Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
South Korean Won Leads Asian FX Losses as Dollar Rises 
Gold Prices Surge 7% as Dollar Falls, Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease 
US Dollar Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Inflation Data 
US Dollar Gains as Iran Tensions, Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Trump Unveils $3 Billion U.S. Critical Minerals Push 
Iran-Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Deal as Shipping Tensions Persist 
BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Rise Ahead of September Meeting 
Gold Prices Hold Near Seven-Week High as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
US Yen Intervention Unlikely to Deliver Lasting Recovery, Yardeni Says 
Japan Executives Warn Weak Yen and Currency Volatility Threaten Economy 
US Stock Futures Flat as Iran Strait of Hormuz Demands Fuel Oil Concerns 
European Stocks Flat as Oil Prices Rise, US CPI in Focus 
China Exports Beat July Forecasts as AI Demand Fuels High-Tech Trade 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await U.S. Jobs Data 
Asian Stocks Mixed as Chip Selloff Hits KOSPI, Nikkei Ahead of US Jobs Data 
Russian stocks closed mixed on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index finishing flat at 0.00% and touching its lowest level in six months. Investor sentiment remained cautious as gains in select stocks were offset by declines in key sectors, reflecting ongoing uncertainty in the Russian equity market.
Among the top performers on the Moscow Exchange, Aeroflot PJSC (MCX:AFLT) advanced 2.32% to close at 44.15. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) gained 1.79% to finish at 13.34, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) added 1.41%, ending the session at 0.05.
On the downside, PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK) recorded the largest decline among blue-chip stocks, dropping 2.32% to 581.20. TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX:TATN_p) fell 1.09% to 552.30, while TATNEFT (MCX:TATN) slipped 0.86% to close at 591.30.
Market breadth remained positive despite the weak benchmark performance, with 148 stocks advancing, 84 declining, and 15 ending unchanged on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), a key measure of expected market volatility based on MOEX Russia Index options, remained unchanged at 26.71.
In the commodities market, gold prices rallied sharply as Gold Futures for August delivery climbed 3.03%, or $124.80, to reach $4,238.80 per troy ounce. Meanwhile, oil prices moved lower. U.S. crude oil for July delivery declined 3.23% to $84.88 per barrel, while Brent crude for August delivery dropped 3.37% to $87.33 per barrel.
Currency markets also saw moderate movement. The U.S. dollar strengthened 0.33% against the Russian ruble, with USD/RUB rising to 72.50. EUR/RUB gained 0.24% to 83.87.
The U.S. Dollar Index Futures edged down 0.10% to 99.75, highlighting broader weakness in the dollar despite gains against the ruble. Investors will continue monitoring global commodity prices, currency fluctuations, and geopolitical developments for clues about the direction of Russian stocks and emerging market assets.
