US Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Fed Minutes, AI Stocks, and Q2 Earnings 
Gold Price Rebounds as U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Minutes Keep Markets on Edge 
Chinese Chip Stocks Jump as Apple Reportedly Tests CXMT Memory Chips for China Devices 
Gold Price Rises as Softer Dollar and Fed Rate Expectations Boost Bullion Demand 
Iran Begins Oil Sale Talks With Japan Under U.S. Sanctions Waiver Amid Shipping Risks 
Japan Defense Stocks Rally on Report of New Defense Ministry Bureau for Global Cooperation 
RBNZ Raises Interest Rates to 2.50%, Signals More Tightening as Inflation Risks Persist 
Cuba Power Grid Collapse Triggers Nationwide Blackout Amid Deepening Energy Crisis 
Oil Prices Slip as OPEC+ Boosts August Output, Oversupply Concerns Weigh on Crude Market 
Asian Stocks Slip as AI Chip Valuation Fears, Rising Oil Prices Weigh on Markets 
US Stock Futures Slip as Fed Minutes, Earnings Season Take Center Stage 
US Stock Futures Steady as Middle East Tensions and Fed Minutes Keep Investors Cautious 
Gold Price Today: Gold Slips as Dollar Rebounds Ahead of Fed Minutes 
Asia Stocks Fall as Samsung Earnings Fail to Ease AI Valuation Concerns 
Dollar Rebounds as Euro, Pound Slip Ahead of Fed Minutes, Yen Near Intervention Zone 
Oil Prices Jump as Middle East Tensions Shake Markets, AI Rally Loses Steam 
Most Asian currencies weakened on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, while diverging central bank policies continued to shape regional foreign exchange markets.
The greenback gained momentum after the Trump administration launched fresh strikes on Iran and tightened restrictions on Iranian oil exports following attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation boosted demand for safe-haven assets, lifting the U.S. Dollar Index to its highest level in a week.
The Japanese yen remained under pressure, with USD/JPY climbing to around ¥162.46, close to a four-decade low. The pair has now advanced for four consecutive sessions, increasing speculation that Japanese authorities could intervene if volatility intensifies. Bank of Japan board member Toichiro Asada reiterated that clearer evidence of demand-driven inflation is needed before supporting additional interest-rate hikes, reinforcing expectations that Japan will normalize monetary policy only gradually. The wide interest-rate gap between the U.S. and Japan continues to weigh on the yen.
In contrast, the New Zealand dollar outperformed regional peers after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised its official cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, matching market expectations. The central bank also signaled that further policy tightening may be required to bring inflation back to target. Following the decision, USD/NZD fell more than 0.5%, while the Australian dollar also edged higher, with USD/AUD slipping 0.1%.
Elsewhere in Asia, Malaysia’s ringgit weakened modestly ahead of Bank Negara Malaysia’s policy meeting on Thursday, where economists broadly expect interest rates to remain unchanged at 2.75%. Analysts believe recent measures encouraging the repatriation of overseas earnings could provide support for the ringgit once broader U.S. dollar strength fades.
The South Korean won also retreated as investors remained cautious after recent volatility in semiconductor stocks, despite a recovery in the KOSPI. Meanwhile, the Chinese yuan held relatively steady as the People’s Bank of China maintained firm daily reference rates. The Indian rupee, Thai baht, and Taiwan dollar also weakened modestly against the stronger U.S. dollar.
Investors are now focused on the Federal Reserve’s June meeting minutes, China’s June inflation data, and Bank Negara Malaysia’s upcoming policy decision for fresh signals on interest rates, the U.S. dollar, and the outlook for Asian currency markets.
