Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
The S&P 500 climbed 0.4% Wednesday, buoyed by a tech sector rebound after softer-than-expected inflation data. The Nasdaq 100 jumped 1.2%, with NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) surging 8% as investors capitalized on the recent dip. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also added 0.4%.
Cooling inflation eased stagflation concerns, with U.S. consumer prices rising 2.8% year-over-year in February, down from 3.0% in January, and monthly CPI slowing to 0.2% from 0.5%. Core CPI, excluding food and fuel, also decelerated to 3.1% annually and 0.2% monthly, both below estimates. Analysts suggest the Federal Reserve will maintain its patient stance at next week’s meeting.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s expanded steel and aluminum tariffs took effect, prompting retaliatory measures from the EU, which plans new tariffs on U.S. exports next month. Trump threatened further tariffs on EU car imports, while Canada announced 25% reciprocal tariffs on C$30 billion in U.S. goods. However, Ontario later dropped the measure, leading Trump to ease his stance.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) shares rose over 4% on reports that TSMC (NYSE:TSM) is exploring a joint venture with Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, and Qualcomm to operate Intel’s struggling U.S. foundry business. The deal, which requires approval from Trump, would see TSMC take operational control but not a majority stake.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) gained over 1% after the Federal Trade Commission sought a two-month delay in its lawsuit alleging deceptive Prime sign-ups.
With tech stocks rebounding and inflation cooling, investors are closely watching the Fed's next move amid ongoing trade tensions.
