Asian stocks fall as South Korea, Taiwan stocks lead declines - The Business Times

• Spain's EU-harmonised 12-month inflation rate remained steady at 3.6% in June 2024. • According to statistics from the National Statistics Institute (INE), the figure aligned with both previous data and market forecasts.

• European shares experienced a slight decline as escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed on broader market sentiment. • Gains in technology stocks, driven by ASML's positive financial forecasts, and strong demand for luxury jewelry helped offset some of the losses.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) is monitoring the conflict involving Iran to assess potential indirect price pressures and inflation risks. • Despite current geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty, policymakers report that the eurozone economy has remained resilient.

• Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh testified at his first congressional hearing on Tuesday, advocating for a "sea change" in the central bank's economic strategy. • Warsh detailed plans to overhaul the Federal Reserve's current approach to managing inflation and broader economic stability.

• Fed Chairman Kevin M. Warsh testified before Congress on Tuesday regarding the economic threats posed by rising energy prices. • The testimony follows new data showing the Consumer Price Index slowed to an annual inflation rate of 3.5 percent in June.

• Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday morning regarding the current state of the U.S. economy. • The hearing serves as a critical briefing for lawmakers to assess economic stability and the Federal Reserve's current monetary policy direction.

• Brent crude prices eased toward $85 per barrel after President Trump withdrew a proposed 20% transit fee for the Strait of Hormuz. • Asian markets showed mixed results on Wednesday, with Hong Kong leading regional gains while GIFT Nifty hovered around 24,040.

• Asian stock markets declined on Tuesday due to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, which pushed oil prices toward one-month highs. • The surge in energy costs has sparked fresh inflation concerns and reduced investor expectations for lower global interest rates.

• Asian markets rose on Wednesday, led by a 6% surge in South Korea’s KOSPI and a 1.7% increase in the MSCI Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan). • The rally followed a surprise 0.4% decline in the US consumer price index for June, the first drop since the pandemic, which reduced expectations for further interest rate hikes.

• The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, with the Sensex gaining 400 points and the Nifty trading near 24,150. • This upward movement is driven by positive investor sentiment following encouraging initial corporate results from the ongoing earnings season.

• Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, following a surprise slowdown in the U.S. inflation rate. • South Korea's chipmaker-heavy KOSPI surged 6% in early trade, while Japan's Nikkei rose 0.4% and the MSCI Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan) climbed 1.7%.