South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
Asian markets rose on Tuesday, brushing off fresh U.S. tariff threats after President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to negotiate. Despite weak cues from Wall Street, investor sentiment in Asia improved as Trump delayed the start date for new tariffs to August 1 and hinted at ongoing trade discussions.
South Korea’s KOSPI led regional gains, climbing 0.7% thanks to a 2.5% rally in SK Hynix shares, which surged after Samsung Electronics warned of disappointing second-quarter earnings. In contrast, Samsung shares slipped around 1%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was flat, while the TOPIX edged slightly lower.
Trump unveiled plans for 25% tariffs on goods from South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia, and higher levies on others—Thailand (36%) and Indonesia (32%). However, his comment that the August 1 deadline wasn’t “100% firm” sparked optimism that some countries could reach trade deals with Washington before tariffs take effect.
Malaysian stocks fell 0.7%, while Indonesia's benchmark dipped 0.2%. Still, broader Asian markets gained on hopes of a softer stance. China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite rose 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.3%, and Singapore’s Straits Times inched up 0.1%. Indian Gift Nifty 50 Futures also rose 0.1%, boosted by progress on a potential U.S.-India trade agreement.
Australian markets remained cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy decision. The ASX 200 dipped 0.1% as traders awaited a widely expected 25-basis-point rate cut to 3.60%—the third this year. While recent inflation and growth data support easing, Westpac analysts cautioned that a cut is not guaranteed due to global economic uncertainties.
Overall, markets remained resilient as hopes for continued U.S. trade negotiations offered some relief.
