Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
The Japanese yen firmed on Thursday, reaching a two-month high of 150.62 per U.S. dollar, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda. The dollar held steady, while the euro and sterling eased, with the British pound slipping to $1.2594.
Trump announced upcoming tariffs on timber, cars, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, echoing previous remarks about imposing a 25% tariff on autos and similar duties on other sectors. Investors remain cautious about the potential economic impact, though markets have grown accustomed to his transactional approach. Meanwhile, Trump also pledged tax cuts for individuals and businesses, adding to market uncertainty.
Federal Reserve minutes revealed officials’ concerns about inflation risks tied to Trump’s trade and immigration policies, reinforcing a patient stance on rate cuts. The dollar index hovered near a one-week high at 107.15.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the Australian dollar edged up 0.07% to $0.6350 after a mixed jobs report, while the New Zealand dollar remained flat at $0.5705. Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Adrian Orr stated that another 50-basis-point rate cut would require a significant economic shock.
China left its benchmark lending rates unchanged, prioritizing financial and currency stability. The offshore yuan gained 0.1% to 7.2788 per dollar.
Geopolitical tensions also influenced market sentiment after Trump referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a “dictator” amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Investors remain watchful as uncertainty looms over global trade, central bank policies, and geopolitical developments.
