S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
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 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
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 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
Dollar Strengthens Amid Fed Rate Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions
The US dollar surged to a seven-week high against major currencies, driven by evolving expectations for US interest rates and rising tensions in the Middle East. A robust US jobs report last week reduced the likelihood of significant Federal Reserve rate cuts, influencing market sentiment.
Fed Rate Cut Expectations Shift
Investors have adjusted their predictions for Federal Reserve rate cuts. According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets now see an 86% probability of a 25 basis points (bps) cut in November, with December easing expectations lowered to 50 bps from over 70 bps a week prior. This shift has strengthened the dollar against the euro, yen, and sterling.
Forex Market Trends
The dollar index, which measures the USD against major currencies, stood at 102.41, slightly below Friday's seven-week high of 102.69. Traders are factoring in a "no landing" scenario, with strong economic data supporting a cautious Fed approach to rate cuts.
Global Currency Movements
The euro traded at $1.0981, while the pound was at $1.3095, both near recent lows. The yen, which fell to a seven-week low of 149.10 per dollar, recovered slightly to 147.795 following remarks from Japanese officials expressing caution over future rate hikes.
Looking Ahead
Investor focus will now turn to the upcoming US inflation report and the Federal Reserve’s September meeting minutes, as well as key monetary policy decisions from New Zealand and China's reopening after the holidays.
