Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
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.
