China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Wall Street ended the week on a strong note Friday, with major U.S. stock indexes climbing sharply as expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in December gained momentum. The rebound helped ease concerns about stretched tech valuations after a turbulent week for global markets.
A broad market rally picked up speed by late morning, lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 493.30 points to 46,245.56. The S&P 500 advanced 0.98% to 6,602.96, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.88% to close at 22,273.08.
The surge followed fresh U.S. labor market data, which showed an unexpected uptick in unemployment—a signal that strengthened the market’s confidence in a potential Fed rate cut. According to CME’s FedWatch tool, traders now see a 73.3% chance of a December cut, up from 39.1% just a day earlier.
Comments from New York Fed President John Williams also boosted sentiment. Once viewed as leaning hawkish, his openness to near-term rate cuts shifted market perception toward a more dovish outlook. Analysts say this helped spark Friday’s strong rebound after Thursday’s broad selloff.
Tech stocks also provided support. Strong earnings from AI-driven leaders like Nvidia helped calm fears that the sector’s rapid gains were unsustainable. With nearly all S&P 500 companies having reported third-quarter results, about 83% have beaten earnings expectations, according to LSEG data.
Global markets were more mixed. European stocks fell for the week amid worries about high tech valuations and optimism around Russia-Ukraine peace efforts, which dragged defense shares lower. Asian markets also slipped, with Japan’s Nikkei dropping 2.40%.
In currencies, the dollar steadied but weakened against the yen as Japanese officials increased efforts to curb the yen’s slide. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies tumbled, with bitcoin falling to multi-month lows.
U.S. Treasury yields dipped as rate-cut bets strengthened, and oil prices fell to a one-month low on developments in the Russia-Ukraine peace push. Gold also edged lower, with spot prices ending at $4,065.29 an ounce.
