Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Oil prices climbed on Monday as investors balanced escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East with lingering uncertainty surrounding Russia–Ukraine peace negotiations, both of which could have major implications for global energy supply. The rebound followed sharp losses at the end of last week, when fears of a global supply glut weighed heavily on the market.
Brent crude futures rose by 56 cents, or nearly 1%, to trade around $61.20 per barrel in early Asian hours, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 51 cents to approximately $57.25 per barrel. Despite the gains, both benchmarks were coming off more than a 2% drop on Friday, reflecting market caution ahead of diplomatic talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Market analysts noted that the primary driver behind Monday’s oil price increase was renewed concern over geopolitical risks. Over the weekend, Russia and Ukraine reportedly continued targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, raising fears of potential supply disruptions. In addition, tensions in the Middle East have intensified, with Saudi Arabia carrying out air strikes in Yemen and Iran warning it is engaged in what it described as a “full-scale war” involving the U.S., Europe, and Israel. These developments have heightened anxiety over the stability of oil supply routes in the region.
Comments from U.S. President Donald Trump offered some optimism, as he stated that peace negotiations with Ukraine were progressing and that both sides were “getting very close” to an agreement. However, both leaders acknowledged that key issues, particularly territorial control over the Donbas region, remain unresolved. Analysts cautioned that without a concrete breakthrough, uncertainty will continue to influence oil markets.
Looking ahead, WTI crude is expected to trade within a $55 to $60 range. Investors are also monitoring U.S. enforcement actions against Venezuelan oil shipments and potential fallout from U.S. military strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria, a country producing roughly 1.5 million barrels of oil per day. Together, these factors suggest oil prices will remain sensitive to geopolitical headlines in the near term.
