China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
The U.S. dollar weakened in early Asian trading on Tuesday as investors weighed remarks from Federal Reserve officials on the path of interest rates. The U.S. dollar index slipped to 97.28, extending Monday’s decline after a brief three-day rally.
Market sentiment turned cautious after Fed officials signaled a slower approach to easing monetary policy. St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said the central bank should “tread cautiously,” while Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic emphasized inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, suggesting no further cuts are needed this year. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack echoed similar caution, though none of them vote this year. By contrast, new Fed Governor Stephen Miran warned the Fed risks harming the labor market without deeper cuts.
U.S. Treasury yields ticked higher, with the 10-year at 4.1467% and the two-year at 3.6051%, as traders priced in lower chances of an October cut. Futures implied only a 10.2% chance of a hold, up from 8.1% on Friday, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
The dollar held steady at 147.74 yen, while the euro traded at $1.1798. Sterling was flat at $1.35125, and the Australian dollar edged down to $0.6599. The kiwi slipped to $0.5867 ahead of a central bank leadership announcement. China’s offshore yuan stayed at 7.1158 per dollar.
Elsewhere, Argentina’s peso surged 4.5% after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested possible measures, including swap lines and direct currency purchases, though action would follow talks with Argentine President Javier Milei.
Meanwhile, gold reached a record $3,749.03 per ounce as safe-haven demand strengthened ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s scheduled remarks later in the day.
