Asian stock markets are a bit mixed, following a quarter where the Nikkei rose 37%, the Kospi 68%, and the Taiex 45%.

US-Iran Talks Stall

President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha for top-level meetings, only to be stood up by Tehran. One very sticky point is the Strait of Hormuz and whether Iran gets to charge for passage.

Sentiment among Japan’s big manufacturers has hit heights not seen since 2018, while manufacturing activity boasted its best quarter since 2014 as new orders surged. Trade numbers from South Korea were truly astounding with the fastest export growth in nearly 50 years in June as shipments of semiconductors surged almost 200%.

Wall Street stock futures are mildly in the red after a solid session overnight led by the usual tech suspects. The same companies are expected to deliver an earnings bonanza this season, which starts from the week of July 13. Analysts at Goldman Sachs note the consensus is for earnings per share to grow 22% on a year earlier.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.