Iran-Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Deal as Shipping Tensions Persist 
Oil Prices Set for Steep Weekly Losses as Hormuz Deal Stalls 
China Inflation Cools in July as CPI Misses Forecast, PPI Deflation Eases 
Gold Prices Hold Near Seven-Week High as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
Goldman Sachs Sees US Stock Buybacks Outpacing Equity Issuance as AI Funding Rises 
UK Retail Sales Rise as World Cup and Heatwave Boost Food, Pubs and Clothing 
Wall Street Slips as Oil Prices Surge 5% on Iran-Hormuz Uncertainty 
European Stocks Flat as Oil Prices Rise, US CPI in Focus 
Japan Executives Warn Weak Yen and Currency Volatility Threaten Economy 
US Dollar Gains as Iran Tensions, Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
England Drought Expands to 71% as Heatwave Deepens Water Crisis 
BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Rise Ahead of September Meeting 
Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Reopening Remains Uncertain 
Gold Prices Rise as Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease 
Trump Unveils $3 Billion U.S. Critical Minerals Push 
Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Reopening Remains Uncertain 
South Korea is seeking bilateral trade deals with Uzbekistan that would establish a platform to help local SMEs sell products through contactless channels, says Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki.
Negotiations between the two countries are slated by the end of the year.
Hong said that South Korea would select some 90 joint investment projects with Uzbekistan.
The two countries have conducted a feasibility study on the projects.
As of 2019, Uzbekistan was the 35th-largest export destination for South Korea, with outbound shipments reaching $2.3 billion, up 10.4 percent on-year.
According to Hong, the key to export recovery is to expand support for online export routes and contactless industries.
Hong noted that South Korean exports have been logging negative growth for six months straight.
South Korea's export volume was $39.66 billion last month, down 9.9 percent from a year before. The second-quarter export volume also slipped 13.5 percent from the previous quarter.
Meanwhile, online exports soared 128.9 percent.
To help South Korean firms expand overseas online sales channels, the government will work with global platforms including Amazon
