• Positive Tone: President Trump said the talks are progressing well. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also made remarks that are supporting investor confidence.
• Asian Markets Surging: The MSCI Asia Pacific index rose by 0.5%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained ~1%, South Korea’s Kospi +0.9%, and Taiwan’s Taiex jumped ~2%.
• Volatile Dollar: The dollar climbed 0.45% against the yen to 145.25, but it has already lost over 8% year-to-date.
• Rare Earths in the Spotlight: China’s restrictions on rare earth exports remain a key issue, especially for the automotive and defense sectors, and are high on the agenda during the talks.
• Oil & Gold Movements: Brent crude climbed 0.24% to $67.20 per barrel, WTI rose 0.25% to $65.45, while spot gold slipped 0.5% to $3,310.40 per ounce.
• Inflation Data Awaited: U.S. CPI and PPI reports scheduled for tomorrow and the next day could heavily influence Federal Reserve rate decisions.

What’s Next?
• The markets are reacting positively to preliminary signs of progress, though no formal agreements have been announced yet.
• Currency and commodity moves reflect cautious optimism ahead of key inflation data.
• Outcomes from the talks—and upcoming U.S. inflation reports—will be crucial in shaping investor sentiment and central bank policy timelines.