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August 24th - According to a report from the U.S. Central Command on August 23rd, the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn is currently sailing in the Arabian Sea, carrying out the U.S. maritime blockade mission against Iran. As of August 23rd, the U.S. military has ordered 70 merchant ships to change course, rendered 3 merchant ships immobile, and boarded and inspected 2 other merchant ships.On August 24, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy died after being shot by Israeli forces at a refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus. Separately, Palestinian health officials in the Gaza Strip stated that Israeli airstrikes on central and southern Gaza on August 23 resulted in at least two deaths and several injuries. Among the dead was a four-year-old child.According to the Washington Post, data from the U.S. Department of Defenses casualty statistics system shows that U.S. military casualties in the war with Iran have risen to 774, including 18 deaths and 756 injuries. Even during periods without large-scale combat, the Department of Defense has quietly added approximately 60 new injury records recently. A large number of the wounded suffered traumatic brain injuries from the blasts during attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.The Israeli Prime Ministers Office reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz held a security assessment meeting Sunday evening regarding the threat of drones, balloons, and kites being launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Israel warned Hamas that if such launches against Israel do not cease immediately, the Israel Defense Forces will intensify targeted strikes against those responsible.On August 24, according to Irans Mehr News Agency, Hassan Kashkawi, spokesman for the Iranian Parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced on Sunday that the committee had adopted Article 3 of the "Strategic Action Plan for Ensuring the Security and Development of the Strait of Hormuz." He stated, "According to this article, we will charge fees for the provision of maritime services, environmental services, fuel supplies in special circumstances, insurance, security, and other services." These fees will be collected from vessels of relevant countries authorized to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, paid in rials or other currencies designated by the Islamic Republic of Iran. He emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of littoral states along the Strait of Hormuz, stating, "We should not forget that international laws and regulations, in addition to recognizing freedom of navigation, also emphasize respect for the security and sovereignty of littoral states and the prevention of violations of these rights."

Asian Stocks Rise; China Plans to Relax COVID Measures; However, Concerns Remain

Aria Thomas

May 30, 2022 11:21

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China's relaxing of several COVID-19 restrictive measures and U.S. markets' greatest week since November 2020 before Monday's Memorial Day weekend sent Asia Pacific stocks higher on Monday morning.


The Nikkei 225 gained 2% by 10:24 p.m. ET (2:24 a.m. GMT), while the KOSPI gained 1.27 percent.


The S&P/ASX 200 increased 0.91 percent in Australia.


Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 2.19 percent .


The Shanghai Composite rose 0.55 percent, while the Shenzhen Component rose 0.04 percent.


Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 contracts were higher, a possible indication that the rebound could continue. As institutional investors rebalance their portfolios in anticipation for the end of the month, the S&P 500 erased its May losses and ended a streak of seven straight weekly losses.


As the European Union (EU) failed to agree on a revised package of Russian sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the dollar remained stable while the euro fluctuate. The U.S. holiday prevents the trading of cash Treasuries in Asia.


China recorded fewer cases of COVID-19 in both Beijing and Shanghai, encouraging the government to relax some restrictions in an effort to stimulate the economy.


After one of the worst starts to the year for global markets, the key question for investors is whether the bottom of the recent selloff is near. Investors have been buying the dip. Concerns continue, however, regarding stricter monetary policies from central banks, growing food inflation resulting from the conflict in Ukraine, and China's COVID-19 measures.


Bloomberg quoted Citigroup (NYSE:C) Australia head of investment experts Maheebeen Zaman as saying, "We are in the midst of a bear market rally."


Treasury yields are expected to peak in 2022, according to Zaman. "I believe the market will trade in a narrow range as investors try to determine how soon the next recession will arrive and how rapidly inflation will decline," he added.


As of Wednesday, the Fed will also begin reducing its $8.9 trillion balance sheet and will also print its Beige Book assessment on regional economic conditions. Presidents John Williams of the New York Fed and James Bullard of the St. Louis Fed will both speak at separate events on Wednesday, with President Loretta Mester of the Cleveland Fed discussing the economic outlook the next day.


Friday, the United States will release its May employment report, including non-farm payrolls. Tuesday will see the release of the Eurozone consumer price index, as well as China's manufacturing and non-manufacturing purchasing managers indexes.


Later in the day, EU leaders will convene in Brussels for a two-day extraordinary conference to discuss the war in Ukraine, defense, inflation, energy, and food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will also release its monthly food price index on Friday, just as global supply concerns reach their peak.