Forex

Iran vows to counter U.S. sanctions as Washington steps up economic pressure
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf condemns new U.S. sanctions as ‘unjust’ and calls for regional economic cooperation to bypass dollar reliance. Measures take effect Monday.

Anthropic expands enterprise AI data controls amid competition
Clients to retain AI data for 30 days but can shift storage to private clouds. Policy shift follows rival OpenAI’s alternative safety model.

UBS lifts EUR/USD target to 1.20 on Fed-ECB policy split
Swiss bank upgrades forecast as U.S. rate hike odds fade and ECB tightening path firms, lifting stop-loss to 1.15.

UBS keeps yen neutral as Fed-BoJ policy gap sustains USD/JPY strength
Swiss bank forecasts the dollar-yen rate will climb to 160 by end-2026 and 158 by mid-2027, citing persistent U.S.-Japan policy divergence despite recent FX intervention.

China, Indonesia agree to expand defense ties, deepen mineral and tech cooperation
Ministers from Beijing and Jakarta pledged to enhance military collaboration and joint projects in AI, green energy and critical minerals amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

U.S. jobless claims drop to 206,000, beating forecasts
Initial unemployment filings fell below expectations for a second straight week, signaling steady labor market conditions despite recent volatility.

NextTrip debuts B2B travel platform for advisors with zero subscription fee
The NASDAQ-listed travel tech firm launches NextTrip Pro, a commission-based platform offering booking tools and group travel management at no cost to qualified travel professionals.

Argentina trade surplus widens to $2.12 bln in July
Exports rose to $8.85 billion while imports climbed to $6.74 billion, exceeding analyst forecasts of $1.85 billion.

Evaxion posts narrower Q2 loss, plans cancer vaccine data release
Biotech firm reports $3.7 million net loss for Q2 2026 as cash position declines to $14 million. EVX-01 and EVX-04 data set for upcoming medical conferences.

U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rise undermines yen intervention efforts
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s coordinated yen-buying operation faces pressure as long-dated yields surge, lifting USD/JPY off intervention levels. BOJ rate hike odds climb to 76% for September.

Brazil to maintain fiscal framework under Lula’s new term, finance minister says
Finance Minister Dario Durigan reaffirms commitment to spending restraint and the fiscal framework, citing a 2% of GDP fiscal effort. Congress discussions target 10 billion reais in 2027 cuts.

Gold breaks $4,600 as bulls target $4,670 amid softer dollar, Treasury yields
Spot gold hit $4,604 on Friday, its highest since mid-May, as a weaker dollar and falling Treasury yields reinforced a bullish breakout above $4,500. The analysis projects $4,635–$4,670 as next resistance levels.

Moderna, Merck mRNA cancer vaccine hits milestone in melanoma trial
Combined therapy shows first late-stage success for personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, driving Moderna shares up 150%. Keytruda patent cliff looms as rivals race to replicate results.

U.S., Canada in final talks to avoid 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum
Negotiators seek compromise on tariff-rate quotas to avert levies on $20 billion of imports ahead of midnight deadline. Cleveland-Cliffs invests $1 billion as talks progress.

GBP/USD rallies as dollar weakens on Fed rate expectations
Sterling gains 0.26% after breaking above 1.36, as U.S. data fuels bets the Federal Reserve will hold rates in September. UK inflation and pay growth fail to bolster pound amid neutral domestic backdrop.

AC Immune's NLRP3 inhibitor shows clean safety profile in phase 1 study
ACI-19764 met primary safety endpoints in healthy volunteers; phase 1b in cardiovascular-risk patients underway with interim data due by year-end.

Radiopharm advances cancer therapy trial to higher dose level
Data Safety and Monitoring Committee approves 180mCi dose in Phase 1 trial of HER2-targeting radiotherapeutic. Company plans broader clinical program across multiple solid tumor types.

Aclarion expands CLARITY trial with University of Arizona spine center
Aclarion adds Phoenix-based neurosurgery program to its 300-patient CLARITY study evaluating Nociscan for discogenic low back pain. Early interim results expected in Q4 2026.

U.S. sanctions nine Cuban entities, three individuals over alleged subversion
Sanctions target ICAP leadership and eight other Cuban organizations for supporting Havana’s government amid claims of a U.S.-focused influence network. Measures follow a May executive order expanding restrictions on Cuban officials.

Oman urges permanent peace in Strait of Hormuz to ensure maritime security
Gulf state calls for regional stability amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and Iran’s reported progress on new shipping lanes.

Tanker approached by unauthorized vessel off Yemen coast: UKMTO
A tanker sailing west was approached by an unauthorised vessel 136 nautical miles east of Mukalla, Yemen, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations. No further details on safety or incident outcome were provided.

Oil prices rise for second week on Middle East supply risks
Brent crude holds near $94 as U.S.-Iran tensions curb Persian Gulf flows; WTI slips to $87. U.S. threatens 'unprecedented' sanctions against Tehran.

Dollar under pressure as U.S. Treasury signals long-end support
Treasury’s expanded bond buybacks signal Washington’s willingness to curb long-end yield surges, reducing a key dollar tailwind and shifting pressure to FX markets.

GBP/USD hits three-month high on UK data, dollar weakness
Sterling climbs to 1.3613 as UK inflation rises to 2.9% and labor data mixed; dollar softens on softer US expectations. Technical levels suggest near-term consolidation.

