Asian shares edged higher on Monday, lifted by strong corporate earnings that kept technology sector valuations near record highs, as investors awaited a key U.S. inflation report expected to influence bonds and the dollar.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index remained closed due to a holiday, but futures inched up to 42,465, pointing to a possible test of its all-time peak of 42,426 later this week.
Global trade and political developments were also in focus. A deadline for new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will be expiring on Tuesday, with widespread expectations that it will be extended. Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet on Friday in Alaska to discuss the conflict in Ukraine.
The most closely watched economic data this week will be U.S. consumer price figures for July, due Tuesday. Analysts expect tariffs to push the core CPI up by 0.3%, bringing the annual rate to 3.0%, which would move further away from the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
Dollar steady ahead of inflation data, U.S.-China tariff decision
The U.S. dollar held its ground on Monday after falling last week, as traders awaited the inflation data and monitored U.S.-China trade talks ahead of the tariff deadline.
The dollar index remained flat at 98.25 after sliding 0.4% last week. Against the Japanese yen, it was unchanged at 147.685, with Tokyo markets shut for the holiday.
Attention remained on trade negotiations, particularly over semiconductor policy, with Trump’s August 12 deadline for a deal approaching. “The market has fully priced in the idea that we’re going to get an extension,” said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group in Melbourne, adding that another 90-day pause appeared most likely.
Efforts are underway to avoid steep tariffs on goods from both countries. Reuters reported on Sunday that chipmakers Nvidia and AMD had agreed to channel 15% of their China sales revenue to the U.S. government in exchange for export licences to sell semiconductors in the Chinese market.
Oil prices drop as markets eye U.S.-Russia talks
Oil prices fell in early Asian trade, adding to losses of more than 4% from last week. The declines followed an OPEC production increase, higher U.S. tariffs on trading partners, and growing expectations that Washington and Moscow could be nearing a ceasefire agreement over Ukraine.
Brent crude futures dropped 52 cents, or 0.78%, to $66.07 a barrel by 0041 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slid 58 cents to $63.30.
Hopes for an end to sanctions restricting Russian oil supplies grew after Trump said on Friday that he would meet Putin in Alaska on August 15 to negotiate a resolution to the war in Ukraine.
The development comes as the U.S. has been increasing pressure on Russia. Washington has warned that sanctions could be tightened further if no peace deal is reached.
Trump had set last Friday as the deadline for Moscow to agree to a settlement, threatening secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian oil. At the same time, he is urging India to scale back its imports of Russian crude.
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