Asian Currencies Strengthen as Indian Rupee and Australian Dollar Rally 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
Gold, Silver, and Platinum Rally as Precious Metals Recover from Sharp Selloff 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Asian stocks traded mixed on Friday, weighed down by renewed concerns over U.S. trade tensions following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a steep 35% tariff on Canadian imports. This followed earlier tariffs on South Korea and Japan, raising fears of a broader trade conflict.
Despite strong overnight gains on Wall Street, regional markets largely failed to follow suit, with S&P 500 futures slipping 0.4% in Asian trading. Investors turned cautious as the outlook for global trade darkened.
However, Chinese and Hong Kong stocks bucked the trend. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite gained 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 1.6%. Optimism was fueled by expectations of additional Chinese stimulus, especially after soft inflation data earlier in the week. Sectors like consumer goods and industrials led the gains.
Investor sentiment in Hong Kong also received a boost from Goldman Sachs, which upgraded its rating on the market to Market-Weight, anticipating easing monetary policy and milder U.S. tariffs. WuXi AppTec shares surged 10.5% after projecting strong first-half earnings, becoming the top performer on the Hang Seng.
Tech stocks in the region mirrored Wall Street’s positive momentum, particularly after Nvidia surpassed a $4 trillion valuation. Continued optimism around artificial intelligence supported gains across Asian tech sectors. South Korea’s KOSPI posted a weekly gain of over 4%, though it edged slightly lower on Friday.
Elsewhere, markets retreated. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX slipped up to 0.3%, Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 1.5%, and India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures fell 0.2%, pointing to a weak open. Traders remain hopeful for a potential U.S.-India trade agreement following Trump’s recent comments.
