South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Asian markets rallied Wednesday, led by Japan’s Nikkei, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan, igniting investor optimism despite mixed corporate earnings in the U.S. The Nikkei surged 1.7%, with automakers like Mazda Motor and Toyota jumping 12% and 10%, respectively.
Trump said Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in the U.S. and implement a 15% reciprocal tariff. A separate agreement with the Philippines will see a 19% tariff on its imports. Though details remain limited, analysts noted relief that a 25% baseline tariff was avoided, reducing short-term uncertainty in equity markets.
Adding to the optimism, Trump revealed that EU officials would visit Wednesday for trade talks. Meanwhile, U.S. and Chinese representatives are scheduled to meet in Stockholm next week, potentially extending their August 12 trade deadline.
Despite the trade boost, Wall Street closed mixed on Tuesday. General Motors dropped 8.1% after revealing a $1 billion tariff-related hit. Investors await key earnings from Tesla and Alphabet, whose performance could influence the AI-driven rally in major U.S. tech stocks.
Nasdaq futures inched up 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.2%. MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan) rose 0.2%, with gains in South Korea and Australia.
The yen briefly rose but settled at 146.68 per dollar. The dollar index held flat at 97.45, marking a three-day decline. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields rose slightly to 4.3579% following recent criticism from Trump directed at Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Fed independence but warned against “mandate creep.”
Spot gold remained stable at $3,429 per ounce as traders balanced risk appetite with safe-haven demand.
