European Stocks Slip as Middle East Tensions and Hormuz Threat Rattle Markets 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Singapore GDP Grows 5.7% in Q2 2026 as AI-Driven Manufacturing Boosts Economy 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Asia Stocks Slip as Iran-Hormuz Tensions Lift Oil Prices, Dollar and Bond Yields 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
The U.S. Treasuries traded flat Wednesday as investors wait to watch the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) December monetary policy meeting minutes, scheduled to be released today by 19:00GMT. Also, the country’s ISM manufacturing PMI for the month of December due later today will add further direction to the debt market.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasuries hovered around 2.46 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yields remained nearly flat 2.81 percent and the yield on the short-term 2-year steadied at 1.92 percent by 11:40GMT.
The US FOMC minutes from the Federal Reserve are a little more helpful (they are unlikely to reference sentiment surveys). Investors may be inclined to underestimate how many interest rate hikes will be required to maintain balance in the US economy. Investors need to be careful in interpreting the minutes as the composition of the FOMC does change significantly this year.
Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Futures traded 0.17 percent higher at 2,697.50 by 11:45GMT, while at 11:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Dollar Strength Index remained slightly bearish at -83.67 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
