Japan’s Spring Wage Hikes Hit New High, but Real Purchasing Power Shrinks; U.S. Tariff Standoff Looms
Japan’s 2025 "shunto" (spring wage negotiations) concluded with average pay hikes reaching 5.25%—equivalent to ¥16,356 per month—marking the second consecutive year of 5%-plus increases. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) offered 4.65% raises (¥12,361 monthly), up 0.2 percentage points from 2024 but still lagging far behind large corporations. The Japanese Trade Union Confederation noted that while wage gains expanded, SMEs failing to hit the 5% threshold widened income disparities.
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Canada Accelerates Trade Diversification to Counter U.S. Tariff Shocks
Canada is pushing faster trade diversification to fend off U.S. tariff impacts: its U.S. export share dropped 10 percentage points to 68% between May 2024 and May 2025, with auto parts and steel hit hardest. Over the period, U.S.-bound exports fell C$7.7 billion (-15%), while gains to the UK, EU, and Asia-Pacific (C$5.7 billion, +42%) failed to offset the gap.
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Australian Shares Edge Lower Ahead of RBA Decision; Tariff Clouds Linger
Australia’s stock market pulled back from record highs on July 7, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping 0.16% to 8,589.3 and the All Ordinaries Index down 0.18% to 8,826.4. The decline followed confirmation that U.S. tariffs on multiple nations will take effect August 1—later than the previously expected July 10—with the U.S. Commerce Secretary stating "take-it-or-leave-it" tariff notices had been sent to over a dozen countries, stoking trade uncertainty.
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Plummeting International Student Numbers in Australia Raise Labor Shortage Fears; RBA Rate Cut Imminent
Australia is grappling with a sharp decline in international students, triggering concerns over labor market gaps. As of April 2025, the total number of international students dropped to 794,000, a decrease of 300,000 from the end of 2024. New enrollments plummeted 13% year-on-year to 219,000, while visa applications fell by over 30%. This is largely attributed to successive policy tightenings: visa fees were hiked twice in a year (from A$710 to A$1,600, then to A$2,000); English proficiency and financial proof requirements were raised
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New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 Falls 0.7% as RBNZ Pauses Rate Cuts
New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index dropped 0.7% to 12,769 on Wednesday, pulling back from a seven-week high hit the previous day, after the Reserve Bank paused its rate-cutting cycle. The central bank kept the cash rate at 3.25% as expected, citing concerns that current inflation and global trade tensions could fuel price pressures. It had cut rates six times since August 2023, totaling 225 basis points, but signaled further cuts may come if inflation eases as projected in May.
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Australian Shares Edge Up in Narrow Range; RBA Rate Decision Sparks Volatility
Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.02% to 8,590.7 on Tuesday, oscillating narrowly after the Reserve Bank’s surprise decision to hold rates steady triggered intraday dips. The index briefly turned negative in early trading but recovered modestly by close.
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Australian Shares Edge Higher on Wall Street Record; RBA Rate Cut in Focus
Australian stocks rose modestly on Friday (July 5), buoyed by fresh record highs on Wall Street. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.17% to 8,610 in midday trade—less than 30 points from its all-time peak—while the All Ordinaries Index added 0.16% to 8,847.3. Despite stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data dampening hopes for a July Fed rate cut, markets reacted positively to signs of economic resilience.
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Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High of $118,804.6, Driven by Policy Shifts and Institutional Inflows
Bitcoin surged to a historic peak of $118,804.6 per coin on July 11, marking a 6.83% daily gain and breaking its previous record set in May 2025 . This milestone comes amid a confluence of geopolitical, regulatory, and market-driven factors reshaping the cryptocurrency landscape.
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