China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
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 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Russian stocks closed lower on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index dropping 2.80%, weighed down by sharp declines in the Mining, Oil & Gas, and Telecom sectors.
Among the top gainers, PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK) rose 1.43% to 448.30, while Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) added 1.03% to 1,719.40. ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) was flat but notched a slight gain of 0.94%, closing at 0.07.
On the downside, ADS Ozon Holdings PLC (MCX:OZONDR) plunged 5.59% to 3,540.00, making it the worst performer of the session. TATNEFT (MCX:TATN) slipped 0.03% to 698.70, and Bank VTB PJSC (MCX:VTBR) edged down 0.01% to 96.59.
Despite the losses, advancing stocks outnumbered decliners by a margin of 86 to 13 on the Moscow Stock Exchange. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), a gauge of market uncertainty based on MOEX options, rose 0.72% to 47.52.
In commodities, June Gold Futures climbed 0.66% to $3,257.00 per troy ounce, signaling continued demand for safe-haven assets. However, oil prices declined, with June Crude Oil Futures falling 1.60% to $58.29 per barrel, and July Brent Crude dropping 1.35% to $61.29.
On the currency front, the ruble weakened against major peers. USD/RUB rose 0.91% to 82.75, and EUR/RUB gained 0.94% to 93.47. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures dipped 0.21% to 99.84, reflecting modest greenback softness.
This decline in Russia’s benchmark index reflects broader investor caution amid commodity price shifts and currency volatility.
