U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
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 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
The U.S. dollar edged lower on Monday after posting modest gains last week, as cautious market sentiment and rising geopolitical tensions weighed on risk appetite. Currency markets remained largely subdued in Asia, showing little reaction after the People’s Bank of China left its key benchmark interest rate unchanged, a move that was widely anticipated by investors.
Pressure on the dollar came amid heightened global uncertainty, with fresh concerns over strained relations between the United States and Venezuela, alongside renewed fears of escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. These developments prompted traders to remain defensive, limiting demand for risk-sensitive assets and curbing further upside in the greenback.
Despite Monday’s pullback, the dollar had found support last week following softer U.S. inflation data that failed to convince markets the Federal Reserve would deliver additional interest rate cuts in the near term. Investors are now turning their attention to December’s inflation report, which analysts believe will play a more decisive role in shaping expectations around future Fed policy and U.S. interest rates.
The Japanese yen strengthened slightly, recovering from recent weakness as government officials reiterated warnings against excessive currency volatility. The USD/JPY pair slipped around 0.2% to trade near 157.45, hovering close to levels not seen since January. Japan’s top currency diplomat, Atsushi Mimura, said authorities stood ready to take “appropriate” action if market moves became disorderly, lending short-term support to the yen.
However, broader concerns continue to weigh on the Japanese currency. The yen has steadily weakened in recent weeks amid worries over Japan’s fiscal outlook and ongoing diplomatic tensions with China. Even after a recent interest rate hike and more hawkish tone from the Bank of Japan, markets were disappointed by the lack of clearer guidance on policy normalization.
Elsewhere, the euro gained modestly, with EUR/USD rising about 0.2%, while the British pound outperformed other major currencies, climbing roughly 0.35% against the dollar. Overall, foreign exchange markets remain sensitive to central bank signals, inflation data, and geopolitical developments that continue to shape global risk sentiment.
