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DBS Group Research economist Ma Tieying analyzes the latest Bank of Korea (BoK) decision, noting a hawkish shift as the base rate is raised to 2.75%. The report now anticipates a faster tightening cycle, with the policy rate reaching 3.25% by year-end 2026. Growth is expected to benefit from the AI-driven semiconductor sector, while Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is projected to overshoot target.BoK signals accelerated tightening cycle”The Bank of Korea raised the base rate to 2.75% from 2.50% at its July 16 meeting, marking the first rate hike since January 2023. The BOK maintained a hawkish stance and signaled…

Silver price recovered some ground on Friday, up 0.84%, but it is poised to finish the week down over 6.50%. At the time of writing, XAG/USD trades at $56.00 per troy ounce, after reaching a new year-to-date (YTD) low of $54.77. Source

Commerzbank’s Dr. Henry Hao argues China’s housing market remains in structural stagnation five years after the Evergrande crisis. National prices follow an L-shaped path, with a K-shaped divergence between Tier-1 and lower-tier cities. Weak demand, tighter funding and demographics mean real estate will no longer be China’s primary growth engine as Beijing redirects capital to new sectors.L-shaped prices, fractured construction cycle”China’s property downturn marks its fifth anniversary in July 2026. Despite localized price stabilization in top tier cities, the national housing market remains locked in stagnation. Our analysis of the construction cycle indicates structural stagnation will persist as Beijing pivots…

The Mexican Peso loses traction against the Greenback, dropping over 0.65% during Friday’s North American session as the American currency benefits due to its safe-haven appeal as the US-Iran conflict is far from ending, despite holding talks to finish the war. The USD/MXN trades at 17.53, after bouncing off a daily low of 17.41.USD/MXN rises as Oil risks revive Dollar and Fed supportMarket sentiment deteriorated amid a sell-off on chip stocks. The rise in Oil prices fueled speculation that the Federal Reserve could hike rates and narrow the interest rate differential, which favoured the Mexican Peso, as it began its…

Scotiabank’s Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret note USD/JPY is little changed despite strong verbal intervention from Finance Minister Katayama, who warned of decisive action at any time. Markets remain unimpressed, given repeated rhetoric and limited impact from actual Yen buying. They recall recent data showing a significant sentiment shift toward the Japanese Yen among local retail FX traders, who may be more attuned to intervention risks.Katayama warnings and intervention expectations”The JPY is little changed despite Finance Minister Katayama deploying aggressive verbal intervention in its support earlier.””Katayama threatened “decisive action at any time”. That ranks as one of the strongest warnings…

United Overseas Bank (UOB) strategists Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann note USD/SGD has stabilised after an earlier sell-off, with spot around 1.2905 and intraday price action expected to stay confined between nearby support and resistance. They highlights building downside momentum on a 1–3 week horizon, with 1.2860 as a key trigger for a deeper decline, while 1.2930 caps the topside.Dollar-Singapore pair stuck in tight band”24-HOUR VIEW: USD fell to a low of 1.2876 two days ago. When it was at 1.2885 in the early Asian session yesterday, we highlighted that “the sharp increase in momentum points to further…

The upcoming week will be dominated by the European Central Bank’s (ECB) interest rate decision, United Kingdom (UK) inflation and labor market figures, and preliminary global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data. Australian employment, New Zealand inflation and Canadian CPI figures will also attract attention.The US Dollar Index (DXY) trades slightly higher near 100.80 after mixed United States (US) economic releases. The United States (US) calendar will be relatively light, leaving the Greenback sensitive to Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations, global risk sentiment, and developments in energy markets.US Initial Jobless Claims are expected to rise slightly to 212K from 208K on Thursday.…

Gold edges higher by some 0.92% on Friday as the US-Iran conflict boosted energy prices, which ultimately drive inflation higher, increasing expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) might need to raise interest rates. At the time of writing, the XAU/USD trades at $4,013, after reaching a daily low of $3,959.XAU/USD rises as Middle East escalation revives inflation fearsAttacks between the US and Iran soured market sentiment despite the ongoing recovery in US equity markets. Newswires revealing a further escalation of the war are pushing the non-yielding metal higher.Axios reported that the Trump administration is sending dozens of additional refueling planes…

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) trades near 52,250 on Friday, down nearly 300 points late in the month’s strangest session. The index slid to the 52,000 handle through the first half of the day, rallied more than 600 points on the strongest consumer sentiment reading since February, and has spent the afternoon handing the entire pop back to the morning range. The average still hovers near flat on the week, while the broader benchmarks bleed.Good news, promptly confiscatedThe morning data offered little direction. Housing starts ran at a 1.43 million annualized pace against a 1.31 million consensus, building permits…

AUD/USD trades higher near 0.6980 on Friday, recovering from an initial decline as the US Dollar (USD) loses ground following a mixed batch of United States (US) economic data. Stronger Housing Starts and Consumer Sentiment were offset by weaker Building Permits and subdued Industrial Production prints.US Housing Starts increased to an annualized 1.43 million in June, beating expectations of 1.31 million and rising from 1.20 million previously. However, Building Permits declined to 1.37 million MoM, below the 1.40 million forecast and the previous 1.41 million. Building Permits are down 3.0% on an annual basis.US Industrial Production rose only 0.1% MoM,…