Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
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.
