Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
New Zealand’s annual consumer inflation rose to 2.7% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 2.5% in Q1, but slightly below economists’ forecast of 2.8%, according to Statistics New Zealand. The increase was driven by higher local government taxes and rising housing rental prices.
On a quarterly basis, the consumer price index (CPI) climbed 0.5%, easing from a 0.9% gain in the previous quarter and missing the 0.6% increase expected by analysts polled by Reuters. Despite the uptick, inflation remains within the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s (RBNZ) target band of 1% to 3% for the fourth straight quarter.
The RBNZ, which held interest rates steady earlier this month, had projected annual inflation at 2.6% for Q2. Since August 2024, the central bank has reduced interest rates by a total of 225 basis points to 3.25%. While this marks the first pause in its rate-cutting cycle, market expectations for another cut in August remain high.
Ongoing global uncertainties, particularly surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies, continue to weigh on central bank decisions. Although inflation is edging closer to the RBNZ’s upper target limit, economists point to subdued medium-term inflation and spare economic capacity as justification for potential easing.
Non-tradeable inflation, which reflects domestic price pressures, rose 3.7% year-over-year—its slowest pace since Q2 2021.
According to Nicola Growden of Statistics New Zealand, “Although the annual inflation rate increased from the March quarter, it remains within the RBNZ’s target band.” With inflation pressures still moderate and the broader economy showing signs of weakness, markets are increasingly pricing in a rate cut at the RBNZ’s next meeting.
