Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
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 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Russian equities closed mixed on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session flat at 0.00%, reflecting a cautious mood among investors. Market movements were largely muted as gains in select tech and industrial stocks were offset by declines in construction and energy shares.
Leading the session were VK Company Ltd (MCX: VKCO), which climbed 1.03% to close at 265.80, supported by steady demand in the digital sector. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) added 0.77% to 12.50, while TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX: TATN_p) rose 0.74% to 556.00, aided by moderate recovery in oil market sentiment.
However, losses in the construction and energy sectors weighed on the broader market. PIK SHb PJSC (MCX: PIKK) dropped 1.16% to 416.20, marking one of the session’s weakest performances. Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX: SNGS) slipped 0.72% to 20.06, hitting a 52-week low, while OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX: RUAL) declined 0.53% to 29.99 amid subdued aluminum prices. Market breadth was evenly split, with 105 stocks declining, 105 advancing, and 16 unchanged on the Moscow Exchange.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.70% to $4,000.40 per troy ounce, signaling a flight to safety amid global uncertainty. Meanwhile, Crude Oil (November delivery) fell sharply by 4.24% to $58.90 per barrel, and Brent Oil (December contract) dropped 3.82% to $62.73.
Currency markets also reflected moderate volatility. The USD/RUB pair gained 0.55% to 81.63, and EUR/RUB advanced 1.04% to 94.85, while the U.S. Dollar Index Futures eased 0.55% to 98.73. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI) remained stable at 31.36, indicating steady investor sentiment despite global market fluctuations.
