Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
The Japanese yen fell on Thursday amid growing political uncertainty and stalled trade negotiations with the U.S., hitting a one-year low against the euro. Investors are increasingly nervous as polls suggest Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s coalition could lose its upper house majority in Sunday’s election.
Trade tensions are adding pressure, with Japan yet to secure a deal to avoid U.S. tariffs ahead of an August 1 deadline. A 45-minute call between Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick ended without resolution. President Donald Trump recently hinted that 25% tariffs on Japanese imports may remain unless a deal is reached, compounding market jitters.
June export data showed a 0.5% year-on-year decline, marking the second consecutive monthly drop. The yen weakened 0.4% to 148.44 per dollar and 0.3% to 172.58 per euro. Meanwhile, Trump denied plans to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell despite reports suggesting otherwise, helping the U.S. dollar recover modestly. The dollar index edged up 0.1% to 98.466.
Market experts say any move against Powell could destabilize faith in U.S. financial leadership. ANZ’s Mahjabeen Zaman warned that a dovish Fed could reignite inflation and weaken the dollar further, stressing the importance of Fed independence.
In other currency movements, the Australian dollar fell 0.6% to $0.6491 after disappointing jobs data pushed unemployment to its highest since late 2021. The New Zealand dollar also slipped 0.3% to $0.5929.
As global investors watch Japan’s election outcome and the U.S.-Japan tariff standoff, market volatility and pressure on the yen are expected to persist.
