US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Asian markets traded mixed on Thursday as investor caution persisted amid ongoing uncertainty over U.S. trade tariffs and interest rate outlooks. Chipmaking stocks led losses, with attention centered on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which is set to report second-quarter earnings later today.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3%, while the TOPIX index was flat. Trade data showed continued weakness in exports due to U.S. tariffs on steel and automobiles. South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 0.4%, weighed down by a sharp 8% plunge in SK Hynix after a downgrade from Goldman Sachs. Samsung Electronics bucked the trend, rising 1.7%. Japan’s Tokyo Electron and Advantest both lost around 2%, while China’s SMIC edged slightly higher.
TSMC fell 0.9% in Taiwan trade ahead of its earnings release. Investors are focused on guidance updates amid U.S. tariff risks and currency volatility, despite expectations of strong AI-driven performance.
ASML’s cautious 2026 outlook pressured the broader chip sector, with the Dutch firm citing delayed investment decisions due to trade tensions, even as AI demand boosted Q2 bookings.
In Australia, the ASX 200 surged 0.7%, nearing record highs. Weaker-than-expected June jobs data fueled expectations of further rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia, boosting tech and cyclical shares. Macquarie analysts expressed a bullish outlook on Australian equities, citing global easing trends.
China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 saw modest gains, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng remained steady after recent tech-fueled rallies. Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.3% on strong June export data. Indian Nifty 50 futures were flat. U.S. S&P 500 futures edged down 0.2% in Asian trading after mixed signals from Wall Street, where bank earnings failed to offset economic concerns. Netflix is scheduled to report results later today.
