📈 Asian Markets Rise as Inline US Inflation Cools Fed Hike Bets

• Equities & Global Indices: MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan jumped +0.97%, driven by South Korean equities (+4.4%) and Japan’s Nikkei (+1.86%). US S&P 500 E-minis edged up +0.02% following a mixed close on Wall Street. • Inflation & Monetary Policy: US consumer prices rose +0.1% MoM in July, meeting expectations. CME FedWatch rate hike probabilities for September dropped to 40% from 54% a week prior. Meanwhile, Japan’s July wholesale inflation surged +7.2% YoY, raising expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike next month. • Commodities & Energy: Crude prices eased but remained elevated amid US-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz; Brent crude fell -0.71% to US$ 88.35/bbl while US crude dipped -0.83% to US$ 82.58/bbl. In precious metals, spot gold gained +0.28% to US$ 4,419.28/oz and silver rose +0.3% to US$ 65.50/oz. • Currencies & Yields: The US Dollar Index remained steady at 99.93, while USD/JPY dipped -0.06% to 159.32. Benchmark 10-year US Treasury yields rose slightly to 4.688%.