Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Asian stocks mostly climbed Thursday, tracking Wall Street’s rally after the Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged and made no major policy shifts. However, Chinese markets lagged due to profit-taking following a strong rally.
Markets reacted positively to the Fed’s decision, with U.S. stock futures rising in Asian trade. Investors were relieved that the central bank did not take drastic action despite concerns over a global economic slowdown and trade tensions. However, the Fed trimmed its annual growth forecast and warned of rising inflation.
In Asia, trading volumes were limited due to a Japanese holiday, with Nikkei 225 Futures slipping 0.1%. Australia’s ASX 200 gained 1.1%, rebounding from a seven-month low. Weaker-than-expected employment data fueled speculation of another rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia, as the central bank remains focused on inflation and labor market trends.
Broader Asian markets followed Wall Street’s lead, supported by optimism over potential Chinese stimulus. South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.5%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.7%. India’s Nifty 50 futures signaled a positive open, extending gains from a recent nine-month low.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.1%, retreating from a three-year high. Tech and internet stocks led losses as investors took profits after a strong rally driven by optimism over China’s AI sector and stimulus hopes. Despite Thursday’s dip, the Hang Seng remains up nearly 25% in 2025.
China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite fell 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively, as traders awaited further fiscal measures from Beijing. The People’s Bank of China, as expected, kept its benchmark loan prime rate unchanged.
