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The information provided on EL7.AI is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Amid escalating geopolitical risks in vital waterways, Asian markets exhibited mixed performance and selling pressure following a sudden spike in energy costs. According to reports, Brent crude rose approximately 3% to exceed the $90 per barrel threshold, while West Texas Intermediate approached the $85 level. This surge led to a 4.2% decline in South Korea's Kospi index, while Chinese blue chips showed notable resilience, bucking the trend with a 1.4% gain.
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Sign InThe rally in oil prices is driven by fears of supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing US strikes, reviving inflation concerns ahead of major tech earnings. Looking at regional peers, markets have been sensitized to inflationary pressures as evidenced by recent data; India's annual inflation rate reached 4.38% on July 13, 2026, exceeding the 4.3% forecast per market data. Meanwhile, Chinese trade data showed robust export growth of 27%, which partially supported investor sentiment in the mainland despite global anxiety.
Traders should monitor whether oil prices stabilize above new psychological support levels, though updated closing price data is currently unavailable. On the economic front, markets are awaiting the outcomes of the OPEC meeting and speeches from Federal Reserve officials, including Bowman and Waller, to gauge the monetary policy path amid energy price pressures. Upcoming US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data will be critical in determining global inflation trends and their impact on emerging market risk appetite.