US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
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Tariff Suspension and Trade Agreements
President Donald Trump announced a 30-day tariff halt on imports from Mexico and Canada after successful negotiations. The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, agreed to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to curb drug trafficking and unauthorized migration in exchange for a suspension of a planned 25% tariff. Similarly, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised his counterpart to augment the border security measures, accordingly, there also existed a freezing on tariffs, at least regarding Canada.
Market Reactions and Continued Trade Debates
This triggered good reactions in markets around the globe. US equities futures were trading higher, with an increase in S&P 500 by 0.4%. That notwithstanding, Trump declared that the scheduled 10 percent tariff on imports from China would be enforced. Trump called it the "opening salvo" into what could continue to escalate if the negotiations were not moving in the right direction. This situation mirrors the continued complexity of U.S. trade policy as Trump negotiates diplomatic relationships while dealing with critical issues such as immigration and drug trafficking.p'
