Japan Private-Sector Growth Slows as Domestic Demand Weakens 
Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High as Yen Approaches 160 
Oil Prices Ease as Iran Tensions Clash With Diplomacy Hopes 
China’s ‘Lipstick King’ Says AI Won’t Replace Livestream Hosts 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High 
Japanese Bank Stocks Surge as Bond Yields Fuel Rate Hike Bets 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
U.S. Treasury Yields Surge as 30-Year Hits 22-Year High 
Oil Prices Jump 3% as Houthi Attack Revives Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Fall as Bond Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Asian Stocks Fall as Surging Bond Yields Rattle Markets 
Trump, Xi Focus on Trade and AI at White House Summit 
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
US Comfortable With Canada Trade Standoff as Import Bans Loom 
US Stock Futures Fall as Treasury Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
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Asian markets saw a cautious rebound on Wednesday, buoyed by dovish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and strong U.S. bank earnings, though persistent U.S.-China trade tensions curbed broader risk appetite. Powell hinted that the Fed may be nearing the end of its balance sheet reduction and left the door open for further rate cuts, reinforcing market expectations of easing later this year. Traders are now pricing in around 48 basis points of cuts by December.
ANZ economist Tom Kenny noted that the Fed could announce the end of quantitative tightening as early as the October FOMC meeting, forecasting 25-basis-point cuts in both October and December. Investor sentiment was further supported by upbeat quarterly results from major U.S. banks and an improved global growth outlook from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.45%, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.8% after a steep decline earlier in the week. U.S. futures also advanced modestly, with Nasdaq and S&P 500 up about 0.1% each.
However, optimism was tempered by escalating trade frictions. President Donald Trump said Washington might terminate certain trade ties with China, while both nations imposed new port fees on shipping companies. The trade conflict intensified after the U.S. introduced 100% tariffs on Chinese goods in response to Beijing’s expanded export restrictions on rare earth materials.
Meanwhile, European futures rose sharply after French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced a suspension of pension reforms until after the 2027 elections, easing investor worries. The euro edged higher to $1.1611, while the dollar weakened amid Fed rate-cut bets. Safe-haven assets like the yen and Swiss franc gained slightly.
Gold continued its record surge, rising 0.9% to $4,179.80 per ounce, while oil prices slipped marginally, with Brent at $62.33 a barrel and U.S. crude at $58.66.
