South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
The U.S. dollar headed for a second consecutive weekly decline as escalating geopolitical tensions and renewed tariff threats weighed on investor confidence and reduced demand for U.S. assets. The dollar index (DXY), a key gauge of the greenback against a basket of major currencies, remained under pressure despite a modest rebound late in the week.
Market sentiment deteriorated after the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting countries that supply oil to Cuba, raising fears of broader trade disruptions. These tariff threats added to existing global strains involving Iran, Venezuela, Greenland, and Europe, all of which have unsettled foreign exchange markets.
Concerns intensified following reports that Trump is considering targeted military strikes against Iran. The possibility of conflict pushed oil prices higher and further weakened the U.S. dollar, as investors moved away from risk-sensitive U.S. assets. Analysts noted that geopolitical uncertainty has become a key driver behind the recent dollar slide.
On Friday, the dollar index edged up 0.2% to 96.35, trimming its weekly loss to around 1.1%, though it remained near multi-year lows. Earlier in the week, the dollar touched a four-year low after Trump appeared unconcerned about currency weakness. Some stability returned after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated Washington’s commitment to a strong-dollar policy.
In currency markets, the euro slipped 0.2% to $1.194, while the Japanese yen weakened to 153.39 per dollar. Sterling also eased to $1.3791. A softer dollar has offered limited relief to the yen, which has hovered in the 152–154 range amid speculation about potential intervention by U.S. and Japanese authorities.
The Federal Reserve provided mild support to the greenback after holding interest rates steady, with Chair Jerome Powell citing a resilient U.S. economy and easing inflation risks. In Japan, Tokyo inflation data showed core consumer prices rising 2% year-on-year, aligning with the central bank’s target.
Elsewhere, the Australian and New Zealand dollars both slipped against the U.S. dollar. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin and ether posted small declines, reflecting cautious risk sentiment across global markets.
