South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
The S&P 500 edged up Monday as investor sentiment improved following President Donald Trump's remarks suggesting openness to global trade negotiations. Trump said his administration is “always open to talk,” including with the European Union, easing fears of an imminent trade war. His comments came after sending letters proposing tariffs—including a 30% levy on goods from Mexico and the EU—but he described them as “opportunities for deals.”
At market close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 88 points (0.2%), the S&P 500 gained 0.1%, and the NASDAQ added 0.3%, ending at a record high of 20,640.33.
Investors are watching closely as the August 1 deadline looms for the expiration of the current tariff pause. Customs duty collections reached a record $113.3 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent projecting it could rise to $300 billion by year-end.
This week also marks the start of the U.S. corporate earnings season, with major banks like JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo set to report. Additional earnings from Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and 3M are also expected. Fastenal shares climbed after the company beat Q2 estimates.
Market attention will shift Tuesday to the June Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key indicator for Federal Reserve policy. The CPI is forecast to rise 0.3% month-over-month and 2.6% annually. The Fed held rates steady in June, but futures suggest a possible rate cut in September.
Meanwhile, crypto-related stocks soared as Bitcoin surged past $123,000. Shares of Coinbase, Marathon Digital, and MicroStrategy posted strong gains, boosted by rising ETF inflows and optimism over favorable U.S. regulation.
