Gold, Silver, and Platinum Rally as Precious Metals Recover from Sharp Selloff 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
Indian Rupee Strengthens Sharply After U.S.-India Trade Deal Announcement 
The S&P 500 closed higher Wednesday after President Donald Trump dismissed reports suggesting he was close to firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Trump clarified he had “no plans” to remove Powell, though he criticized the Fed’s handling of interest rates and costly renovations at its headquarters.
At market close, the Dow rose 231 points (0.5%), the S&P 500 added 0.3%, and the Nasdaq hit a record high of 20,730.49.
On the economic front, U.S. wholesale inflation remained flat in June, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 2.3% annually, down from May’s 2.7%, and unchanged month-on-month. This came after Tuesday's data showed consumer prices rose 2.7% annually, beating expectations.
The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, offering anecdotal insights into economic conditions, is expected to underscore ongoing stagflation risks amid trade uncertainty. President Trump announced new tariffs, including 200% on pharmaceutical imports and 19% on Indonesian goods, with more “reciprocal” tariffs potentially hitting by August 1.
Meanwhile, Q2 earnings season is in full swing. Bank of America and Goldman Sachs shares rose on strong trading revenue, while Morgan Stanley slipped despite a profit increase. JPMorgan and Citigroup beat estimates but warned of economic risks tied to trade tensions.
Tesla gained 3% after unveiling plans for a six-seater Model Y this fall. Johnson & Johnson stock climbed following an upgraded sales forecast. Global Payments surged 5% on news of Elliott Management’s investment.
Crypto-related stocks like Circle, Coinbase, and Marathon Digital rallied as optimism grew around pending votes on the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act, two bills that could significantly expand stablecoin adoption.
