Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
Asian Currencies Strengthen as Indian Rupee and Australian Dollar Rally 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
The U.S. dollar edged lower on Thursday, retreating from a two-week high against major currencies, as markets shrugged off President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats. Risk sentiment held strong, with investors buoyed by optimism that the most severe trade tensions may be avoided.
The Brazilian real was an outlier, plunging as much as 2.8% overnight to 5.6047 per dollar after Trump proposed a 50% tariff on the country—citing both trade concerns and the treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial for attempting to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election results.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields declined sharply after a robust 10-year note auction, adding pressure on the dollar and calming fears of a broad “Sell America” trend seen earlier in the year. The dollar index dipped 0.1% to 97.286, following a 0.2% drop on Wednesday.
Market enthusiasm extended to equities and crypto. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) became the first company to hit a $4 trillion valuation, and bitcoin surged to a record high of $111,988.90 before settling around $111,114. Analysts see potential gains toward $120,000 as investor risk appetite grows.
Federal Reserve minutes also bolstered sentiment, showing most policymakers anticipate rate cuts later this year.
In currency markets, the euro rose 0.2% to $1.1747, sterling climbed to $1.3612, the dollar fell 0.3% to 145.84 yen, and slipped 0.3% against the Swiss franc to 0.7922.
While Trump’s letters to trade partners reiterated earlier tariff proposals, countries like India, the EU, and Taiwan were notably absent, raising speculation about behind-the-scenes negotiations. A potential trade deal with India appears imminent, with the EU also nearing an agreement.
