The United States carried out airstrikes on Iran after Iran’s attacked tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The RBNZ raised the interest rate to 2.5%

By the end of the day, the Dow Jones Index (US30) fell by 0.25%. The S&P 500 Index (US500) declined by 0.45%. The Technology‑heavy NASDAQ Index (US100) closed lower yesterday by 1.16%. The technology sector came under strong pressure due to a sell‑off in semiconductor stocks. Investors focused on risks in the field of artificial intelligence: despite Samsung’s impressive results, the report failed to meet the market’s elevated expectations, which triggered declines in Micron (-4.7%), AMD (-6.5%), and Intel (-9.7%). An additional negative factor was reports that the Chinese company DeepSeek is developing its own AI chip, which heightened concerns about future competition. Sentiment also deteriorated due to geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where attacks on tankers triggered a spike in oil prices, leading to higher Treasury yields and raising concerns about inflation.

In May 2026, the US trade deficit widened significantly, reaching 77.6 billion dollars compared with the revised April figure of 54.6 billion dollars. This result was the largest gap since March 2025 and was close to market expectations, which expected around 78.5 billion dollars. The sharp increase in the deficit was driven by simultaneous growth in imports and a decline in exports of goods and services. Analysts note that the current dynamics of foreign trade may negatively affect GDP figures in the second quarter, while uncertainty in trade policy persists amid ongoing annual trade reviews and tariff measures.

Data on Canada’s Ivey PMI for June 2026 confirm a slowdown in economic growth. The Index fell to 56.2 points from May’s 58.2, below analysts’ expectations of 59.1. This decline ended a three‑month series of index increases and marked its lowest reading since March of this year.

European indices closed mixed on Tuesday. By the end of the day, Germany’s DAX (DE40) fell by 1.37%. France’s CAC 40 (FR40) closed down 0.51%, Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) declined by 0.22%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) finished the trading session higher by 0.13%.

On Tuesday, oil prices surged sharply, rising 5% and reaching 72 dollars per barrel for WTI. The main catalyst for the price spike was the escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, where an attack occurred on three tankers, including a Qatari LNG carrier, once again threatening the security of a key energy corridor and raising concerns about supply disruptions. In response to the escalation, the US Treasury announced the revocation of a general license that just weeks earlier had temporarily allowed the sale of Iranian oil. This decision, made less than three weeks after the easing was introduced, effectively ends the recent sanctions exemptions.

On Tuesday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) fell by 2.12%, China’s FTSE China A50 closed lower by 0.38%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) declined by 0.51%, and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) closed lower yesterday by 0.31%.

The New Zealand dollar strengthened to 0.571 USD after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand unexpectedly raised the base rate by 25 basis points to 2.50%. This decision became the first step toward monetary tightening in more than three years, highlighting the regulator’s determination to contain inflation without creating excessive pressure on economic activity. Markets reacted optimistically to the news, as the bank provided clear signals of a likely continuation of the rate‑hike cycle this year. At present, most economists expect at least one or two additional increases, and the probability of a similar move in October is already almost fully priced in.

On Wednesday, the Australian dollar was trading near 0.694 USD, holding near its three‑month lows. Pressure on the Australian currency is driven by a sharp deterioration in global risk appetite amid the escalation of the US-Iran conflict. Investors are massively shifting capital into the US dollar as a “safe haven,” especially after Washington carried out new strikes on Iran and revoked permission for Iranian oil exports, which once again triggered concerns about energy shortages and inflation risks. The deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia stated that current oil price spikes negatively affect consumer and business confidence, but emphasized the overall resilience of the national economy.

On Wednesday, the offshore yuan strengthened to 6.79 per dollar, beginning a recovery after recent declines. The main driver of optimism was the policy of the People’s Bank of China, which set the daily fixing at 6.8077 – only 59 points below analysts’ outlooks. Such a minimal gap between the official rate and market estimates indicates the regulator’s intention to actively curb the weakening of the national currency, which became a signal of increased state support for the yuan.