S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Asian stock markets extended losses on Thursday, led by steep declines in Japan and China, after reports surfaced that the United States may tighten export restrictions on China. The renewed trade tension between the world’s two largest economies weighed heavily on investor sentiment across the region.
A Reuters report revealed that Washington is considering curbing software-powered exports to China, including laptops, jet engines, and advanced technology products. The potential move, reportedly still under discussion, is seen as leverage against Beijing’s recent rare earth export restrictions. The development comes ahead of a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the fragile state of U.S.-China relations.
The news triggered declines across major Asian indices. China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 dropped 0.6%, and the Shanghai Composite fell 0.7%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat, dragged by a 0.8% fall in the Hang Seng TECH Index.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.3%, extending its pullback after a record-breaking rally earlier this week. The broader TOPIX shed 0.5% as investors booked profits amid uncertainty over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s upcoming economic stimulus package. The new plan, expected to exceed last year’s 13.9 trillion yen program, aims to tackle inflation and support household spending.
In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 0.3% to a new record high of 3,895.09 after the Bank of Korea kept its key interest rate steady at 2.5% for the third consecutive meeting. The decision underscored the central bank’s focus on economic stability, with analysts forecasting a potential rate cut in November.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index traded flat, while India’s Nifty 50 futures edged slightly lower. Investors now await key U.S. inflation data ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting, where a rate cut is widely anticipated.
