Gold Price Today: Bullion Heads for First Weekly Gain as Weak U.S. Jobs Data Eases Rate Hike Fears 
Gold Price Surges Above $4,120 as Weak US Jobs Data Lowers Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
New Zealand Consumer Confidence Rises in June as Inflation Expectations Ease 
US Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Fed Minutes, AI Stocks, and Q2 Earnings 
Goldman Sachs Flags 3 Key Risks Ahead of Europe’s Earnings Season 
Iran Begins Oil Sale Talks With Japan Under U.S. Sanctions Waiver Amid Shipping Risks 
Turkey Vehicle Sales Fall 11.4% in June as Auto Market Weakens 
Japan Defense Stocks Rally on Report of New Defense Ministry Bureau for Global Cooperation 
Goldman Sachs Raises USD/JPY Forecast, Sees Yen Weakness Persist Through 2027 
Japan Signals Readiness to Act on Yen as Intervention Speculation Grows 
U.S. Dollar Drops as Weak Jobs Data Boosts Fed Pause Bets, Yen Jumps on Intervention Talk 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Ease Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Moody’s Says Peru’s President-Elect Keiko Fujimori Could Boost Investor Confidence 
Russia Stocks End Flat at Three-Year Low as MOEX Index Stalls, Gold Prices Climb 
Asian Currencies Rise as Dollar Weakens; Yen Holds Steady Amid Japan Intervention Watch 
China Services PMI Beats Forecasts as Strong Demand Supports June Growth 
Asian stock markets mostly declined on Monday as investors turned cautious ahead of Nvidia’s highly anticipated earnings report later this week. Weak sentiment was further pressured by rising oil prices, growing Middle East tensions, and concerns over inflation after Wall Street closed lower on Friday.
Technology stocks led regional losses as traders waited for Nvidia’s results on Wednesday, which are expected to provide key signals about the future of the global artificial intelligence rally. Investor confidence in AI-related stocks has driven much of the market’s gains in recent months, making Nvidia earnings a major focus for global markets.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1%, while the broader TOPIX index slipped 0.8%. Hong Kong stocks also struggled, with the Hang Seng Index falling 1.7% and the Hang Seng TECH Index tumbling 2.5% amid heavy selling in technology shares.
Chinese equities remained under pressure after disappointing economic data highlighted slowing growth. The CSI 300 Index lost 1%, while the Shanghai Composite declined 0.5%. China’s industrial output rose only 4.1% in April, missing market expectations, while retail sales increased just 0.2%, reflecting continued weakness in consumer demand and economic recovery.
Investor sentiment was also hurt by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Reports of a drone strike causing a fire at a UAE nuclear facility and Saudi Arabia intercepting drones over the weekend increased concerns about regional instability. U.S. President Donald Trump also issued strong warnings toward Iran, adding to market uncertainty.
Oil prices moved higher as shipping concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz raised fears of supply disruptions. Higher crude prices also renewed inflation worries, pressuring global equities.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.6%, Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.6%, and India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed lower. South Korea’s KOSPI, however, outperformed regional markets, rising 0.2% as Samsung Electronics shares rebounded following positive developments in labor negotiations.
