Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Wall Street stocks closed slightly higher on Monday, with investors holding back amid renewed U.S. tariff threats and ahead of key economic data and earnings reports. President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions by announcing a 30% tariff on most imports from the EU and Mexico starting August 1, pressuring both parties into last-minute negotiations. The EU responded by pausing its retaliatory measures until early August, while the White House confirmed that talks with the EU, Canada, and Mexico are ongoing.
Despite the headline risk, market reaction was limited as investors have grown accustomed to Trump’s unpredictable trade stance. The Dow Jones rose 88.14 points (0.20%) to 44,459.65, the S&P 500 added 8.81 points (0.14%) to 6,268.56, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 54.80 points (0.27%) to a record 20,640.33—its seventh record close since June 27.
Trading volume remained light at 15.43 billion shares, below the 20-day average of 17.62 billion. Communication services led gains among S&P sectors, up 0.7%, boosted by Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. In contrast, the energy sector dropped 1.2% as crude oil prices fell 2.2% following Trump’s threat of tariffs on Russian oil buyers.
Crypto-related stocks advanced as Bitcoin crossed the $120,000 mark. Coinbase rose 1.8%, while MicroStrategy surged 3.8%. Investor focus now shifts to Tuesday’s consumer price index, expected to show a June inflation uptick, and Wednesday’s producer and import price data. The second-quarter earnings season begins Tuesday, led by major Wall Street banks.
Meanwhile, Waters Corp plunged 13.8% after announcing a $17.5 billion merger with Becton Dickinson’s biosciences unit, marking one of the largest lab equipment deals in recent years.
