Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Asian stocks climbed on Tuesday, with Hong Kong leading gains as optimism over China’s economic stimulus and growing confidence in AI innovation fueled a rally in major tech stocks.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index jumped nearly 2% to a three-year high, driven by a 10% surge in Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) after launching two new AI models. Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) gained over 4% following reports that its 2025 performance metrics will focus on AI-driven growth. BYD Co (HK:1211) also hit a record high after unveiling fast-charging EV technology.
China’s broader markets advanced, with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite adding 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Investors welcomed Beijing’s stimulus plans, boosting confidence in a 2025 economic recovery.
Japanese stocks outperformed, with the Nikkei 225 up 1.6% and the TOPIX rising 1.5%. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway increased its holdings in Japan’s five largest trading houses—Itochu Corp. (TYO:8001), Mitsui & Co. (TYO:8031), Mitsubishi Corp. (TYO:8058), Sumitomo Corp. (TYO:8053), and Marubeni Corp. (TYO:8002)—to nearly 10%, fueling strong gains.
Markets also focused on the Bank of Japan’s upcoming meeting, where the central bank is expected to hold rates but adopt a hawkish tone amid signs of economic resilience.
Elsewhere, Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.2%, South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.3%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index surged 0.9%. India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to a positive open, tracking regional momentum.
Despite strong stock market gains, U.S. stock index futures dipped in Asian trading as investors remained cautious over trade tariffs, a potential recession, and an upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. Meanwhile, heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East dampened risk appetite.
