China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
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 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
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 
Venezuela is reportedly moving closer to restarting government-backed dollar sales, a step that could help stabilize the country’s fragile bolivar after weeks of turbulence linked to US sanctions and oil export disruptions. According to a Bloomberg report published Friday, several banks in Caracas have begun reaching out to corporate clients to gauge demand for US dollars, signaling the first meaningful supply from the government since mid-December.
The banks are said to be collecting bids from companies, although no dollars had been officially distributed as of Thursday. While the precise volume of dollars on offer has not been disclosed, market participants view the outreach as a clear sign that authorities are preparing to re-enter the foreign exchange market in an effort to contain volatility in the bolivar currency.
The source of the funds also remains uncertain. However, the timing coincides with a recent move by the Trump administration to allow two major global commodities traders to resume sales of Venezuelan oil. That authorization may provide the government with renewed access to hard currency, which has been severely constrained by US-led measures targeting the country’s energy exports.
In parallel markets, the bolivar showed signs of stabilization on Friday, trading below 500 bolivars per dollar, based on quotes from crypto-linked trading platforms commonly used to track unofficial exchange rates. This marks an improvement after sharp swings in recent weeks, when US military actions blocking oil shipments significantly reduced dollar inflows and cut off Venezuela’s primary source of foreign revenue.
The pressure on the currency intensified further following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by US forces, an event that triggered panic across financial markets. At its weakest point, the bolivar lost more than 20% of its value, plunging to around 800 per dollar and raising fears of a deeper currency crisis.
If confirmed, the resumption of dollar sales could offer short-term relief for businesses and help restore some confidence in Venezuela’s exchange rate regime. However, analysts caution that lasting stability will depend on sustained access to foreign currency, oil export continuity, and broader economic reforms amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
