Asian and US Markets Stall as Dollar Weakens; Gold and Oil Gain
Market sentiment improved slightly as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran held, easing fears of oil supply disruptions. Asian equities showed mixed performance, with Tokyo's Nikkei climbing 1.6% to a four-month high while South Korea's Kospi dipped 1.07%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.3%, and the CSI 300 remained flat.
The U.S. dollar plunged to 3.5-year lows against the euro amid speculation that former President TRUMP could replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell by fall. The euro surged to $1.6837, its strongest since November 2021, while the Swiss franc hit a decade high. Gold edged upward as the dollar weakened, reflecting broader investor unease over Trump's tariff threats and their potential economic impact.