China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
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 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
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 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
The Canadian dollar plunged to a five-year low, and the Mexican peso remained under pressure on Thursday after former U.S. President Donald Trump renewed tariff threats against Canada and Mexico. Trump reaffirmed plans to impose 25% tariffs on imports from both countries, citing concerns over illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.
He set a February 1 deadline to finalize the tariffs and is considering whether to exempt Canadian and Mexican oil imports before they take effect on Saturday. The USD/CAD pair edged higher late Thursday, reflecting the loonie's decline, while the Mexican peso’s USD/MXN pair dipped slightly but stayed volatile after a 1% rise in the prior session.
Additionally, a 10% tariff on Chinese imports has been proposed to curb trade imbalances and pressure Beijing to crack down on drug trafficking. The escalating trade tensions have triggered market volatility and heightened risk aversion.
In response, Canadian politician Chrystia Freeland, a leading contender to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced plans for a retaliation list targeting U.S. exports. The proposed countermeasures, worth approximately C$200 billion, focus on products from politically significant states like Florida, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
With uncertainty mounting, markets brace for further instability as investors assess potential economic fallout from the tariffs.
