Crude oil falls below $80 per barrel. Australia sees inflation slowdown

The US equity indices showed mixed performance on Tuesday. The Dow Jones (US30) rose by 1.03%. The S&P 500 (US500) added 0.21%. The Tech‑heavy NASDAQ (US100) closed in negative territory at 0.22%. The main source of pressure on the market remained semiconductor stocks, which continued a broad sell‑off amid concerns over slowing AI‑infrastructure spending, the cyclical nature of data‑center investment, and intensifying competition following the successful IPO of China’s CXMT. As a result, Micron shares plunged 8.8%, AMD fell by 8.1%, Intel dropped 5.9%, and Sandisk collapsed 14.2%. Lower oil prices and strong corporate earnings supported defensive sectors and several large companies, allowing the Dow Jones to post a solid gain. Coca‑Cola shares jumped 5% on strong quarterly results and an upgraded full‑year outlook, while Microsoft rose 1.1% ahead of its earnings release.

European equity markets posted moderate gains on Tuesday, supported by strong corporate results and further declines in energy prices. Germany’s DAX (DE40) rose by 0.41%, France’s CAC 40 (FR40) gained 0.63%, Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) slipped 0.07%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) advanced 0.83%. Positive momentum was driven by strong earnings from major companies: Unilever surged 8.5% after raising its full‑year sales outlook, Mercedes‑Benz gained 2.9% on solid profits despite lower deliveries in China, and LVMH added 1% on sales figures that met expectations.

Crude oil prices (WTI) fell to around $79 per barrel on Tuesday, hitting their lowest level in more than a week. The main driver was intensified diplomatic efforts to stabilize conditions in the Strait of Hormuz and improve the outlook for Middle Eastern supply routes. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Oman on restoring maritime security. US President Donald Trump confirmed “constructive negotiations” with Tehran but warned that military strikes could resume if diplomacy fails – prompting Iran to threaten retaliatory measures.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) plunged 3.95%, China’s FTSE China A50 fell by 2.69%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) rose by 0.41%, and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) closed 0.60%.

On Wednesday, Singapore’s SG20 Index reached a record high after a stable performance in the previous session. Gains were driven by financials, technology, and telecommunications. Investor confidence was supported by strong domestic macro data, political stability, and demand for dividend‑paying stocks, while strength in the banking sector offset the global tech sell‑off. Markets largely ignored the recent monetary tightening by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), betting that negotiations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will help ease Middle Eastern tensions and stabilize oil prices.

The Australian dollar (AUD) fell below 0.695 USD, hitting a two‑week low following weak macroeconomic data. Headline inflation unexpectedly slowed to a four‑month low of 3.8% in June (vs. 4.0% expected), while consumer prices posted a second consecutive monthly decline of 0.1%. Core metrics also undershot expectations: annual trimmed‑mean inflation came in at 3.6%, and quarterly core inflation rose 0.8%. The probability of another rate hike this year dropped from over 90% to roughly 50%, and expectations of a rate increase at the upcoming August 11 meeting are now minimal.