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Asian shares slip as worries about US debt send Wall St tumbling

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Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top left, and the foreign exchange rate between US dollar and South Korean won, top center, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea on May 22. (AP)

TOKYO, May 22, (AP): Asian shares fell Thursday after Wall Street slumped under pressure from the Treasury bond market and worries about surging US debt. U.S. futures were little changed, while Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 1.0% in afternoon trading to 36,944.55. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.9% to 23,615.21, while the Shanghai Composite edged down 0.1% to 3,383.10.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.5% to 8,342.80. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.1% to 2,595.69. Rising yields for US Treasury bonds are a canary in the coal mine, Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. “The USstill has the biggest markets, the deepest liquidity, and the dollar’s inertia working in its favor.

But even inertia can’t outrun compound interest and structural deficits forever,” he wrote. The declining US dollar also weighed on regional markets, according to some analysts, because some Asian nations have significant holdings in dollars. A weak dollar also hurts Asian exporters, such as Japanese automakers and electronics companies, by reducing the value of their overseas earnings when they are converted into yen.

In currency trading, the US dollar fell to 143.27 Japanese yen from 143.68 yen. It had been trading at 150 yen levels a year ago. The euro cost $1.1335, up from $1.1330. Investors remain worried over President Donald Trump’s actions, including tariff policies that directly affect Asian companies and decisions on major legislation such as a funding bill now in Congress. “US equities slumped in a ‘Sell America’ move as things turned ugly on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful tax bill.’ ” said Tan Jing Yi, analyst at Mizuho Bank in Singapore.

On Wednesday, shares tumbled on Wall Street after the US government released the results for its latest auction of 20-year bonds. The government regularly sells such bonds, which is how it borrows money to pay its bills. In this auction, the US government had to pay a yield as high as 5.047% to attract enough buyers to lend it a total of $16 billion over 20 years.  

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How UAE Traders Are Adjusting Their Forex Strategies as Global Markets Stay Volatile in 2025

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The year 2025 continues to test global financial systems with persistent volatility. From central bank policy shifts and oil price instability to geopolitical tensions in key markets, traders are operating in an environment that demands flexibility and a deeper understanding of global macroeconomics. In the UAE, where financial activity is closely linked to international movements, traders are refining their strategies to remain competitive and secure.

Whether it’s retail investors in Dubai or institutional players in Abu Dhabi, the need to adapt to changing conditions in forex trading has become more important than ever. The dynamic shifts in global economics are not just influencing decision-making, they are reshaping how UAE traders evaluate risk, execute trades, and manage exposure across currency pairs.

Focus on Capital Protection and Controlled Risk

A major shift among UAE-based traders is the move toward capital protection strategies. In a volatile environment, limiting downside is often more crucial than maximising short-term gains. Traders are increasingly incorporating stop-loss rules and portfolio diversification as part of their risk control protocols.

Platforms offering position sizing calculators and risk-reward analysis tools have become essential in the decision-making process. This reflects a broader change where the success of a trade is not just about profit, but about how effectively risk is managed over time.

Shift to Shorter-Term Strategies

With long-term market direction often clouded by sudden news events or unexpected central bank interventions, many UAE traders are shifting to shorter timeframes. Scalping and intraday strategies have grown in popularity due to their ability to take advantage of small market moves without staying exposed overnight.

This approach allows traders to stay agile, locking in profits within hours and avoiding market gaps or weekend volatility. Moreover, this flexibility fits well within the mobile-driven trading environment favoured by UAE’s tech-savvy investor base.

Increased Use of Technical Tools

As markets fluctuate more wildly, reliance on technical indicators and automated signals has increased. UAE traders are leveraging platforms with robust charting capabilities and advanced analytics to make real-time decisions.

Commonly used tools include:

  • Relative Strength Index (RSI) for overbought/oversold signals
  • Moving Averages to detect trend direction
  • Fibonacci retracements for identifying entry and exit zones
  • Bollinger Bands for measuring price volatilitynn

These tools are especially helpful when market fundamentals become unpredictable or are dominated by sentiment-driven movements.

Demand for Education and Market Analysis

With volatility comes a growing appetite for market knowledge. Traders in the UAE are increasingly participating in webinars, workshops, and market outlook sessions. Brokerages and educational platforms have responded by offering localised content, including Arabic-language tutorials and Gulf-focused economic briefings.

This demand reflects a professionalisation of the retail trader profile. Instead of speculative behaviour, many UAE-based individuals are approaching trading as a skill-based discipline that requires ongoing learning and strategic planning.

Diversification Beyond Major Pairs

Another trend is diversification beyond the usual EUR/USD or GBP/USD trades. UAE traders are exploring opportunities in emerging market currencies, regional forex pairs, and even commodity-linked currencies such as AUD and CAD.

Reasons behind this diversification include:

  • Seeking new volatility pockets for trading opportunities
  • Avoiding overexposure to dollar-related movements
  • Taking advantage of regional economic trends and oil-linked currencies
  • Hedging positions with less correlated pairs

This broader view is a direct response to global uncertainty, where traditional safe-haven dynamics have become less predictable.

Adaptation to Regulatory and Platform Changes

The UAE’s trading environment is also shaped by evolving regulatory frameworks and technology infrastructure. As SCA (Securities and Commodities Authority) continues to refine its policies around online trading and leverage limits, local traders are becoming more compliant and informed.

Broker selection now includes factors such as:

  • Regulated status in the UAE or other tier-1 jurisdictions
  • Availability of Islamic trading accounts
  • Fast execution speeds with minimal slippage
  • Robust mobile and desktop platforms with analytics

These considerations are crucial for long-term trading sustainability in a heavily digitised and regulated marketplace.

Conclusion

In 2025, global market volatility has turned traditional forex strategies on their head. UAE traders, known for their adaptability and innovation, are rising to the challenge by embracing risk management, technical precision, educational growth, and strategic diversification.

As the world economy continues to shift, these traders are proving that informed, disciplined, and flexible approaches to forex trading are not only effective but essential in uncertain times.

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US stocks hit more records following US-Japan trade deal

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US stocks hit more records following US-Japan trade deal

Specialist Alex Weitzman works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on July 21. (AP)

NEW YORK, July 24, (AP): US stocks set more records on Wednesday following a trade deal between the world’s No. 1 and No. 4 economies, one that would lower proposed tariffs on Japanese imports coming to the United States. The S&P 500 added 0.8% to its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 507 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.6% to hit its own record.

Stocks jumped even more in Tokyo, where the Nikkei 225 rallied 3.5% after President Donald Trump announced a trade framework that would place a 15% tax on imports coming from Japan. That’s lower than the 25% rate that Trump had earlier said would kick in on Aug. 1. “It’s a sign of the times that markets would cheer 15% tariffs,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.

“A year ago, that level of tariffs would be shocking. Today, we breathe a sigh of relief.” Trump has proposed stiff taxes on imports from around the world, which carry the double-edged risk of driving up inflation for US households while slowing the economy. But many of Trump’s tariffs are currently on pause, giving time to reach deals with other countries that could lower the tax rates.

Trump also announced a trade agreement with the Philippines on Tuesday. So far, the US economy has seemed to hold up OK despite the pressures on it. And tariffs already in place may be having less of an effect than expected, at least when it comes to the prices that US households are paying at the moment.

“The main lesson about tariffs so far is that passthrough to consumer prices is tracking somewhat lower than in 2019,” according to Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle. Tariffs are certainly having an effect, to be sure, as big US companies across industries have been showing through their profit updates in recent days.

Hasbro took a $1 billion, non-cash hit to its results for the spring to write down the value of some of its assets following a review triggered by the implementation of tariffs. It said tariffs have had no impact yet on how much profit it’s making from each $1 of its sales, but it expects to see costs ramp during the current quarter. 

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Talabat launches summer rest stops for riders in Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, July 23: As part of its annual summer campaign for riders, talabat, the leading on-demand online ordering and delivery platform in the MENA region, is bringing back its rest stop initiative, with four strategically located, air-conditioned buses across Kuwait. This initiative aligns with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy and commitment to providing riders with a safe working environment where their health and wellbeing remains the top priority, especially during summertime.

Building on the initiative’s success for four consecutive years, talabat continues to extend its welcome this year to all riders across Kuwait. Including those from outside its network, to rest and replenish at any of its bus stop rest areas. These stations are well-equipped with comfortable seating, water, and first-aid essentials, reinforcing talabat’s role in promoting inclusivity and accessibility for all. Commenting on the revival of the initiative, Bader Al-Ghanim, Vice President and Managing Director of talabat Kuwait, said: “Our role in the communities we serve extends beyond delivery. We are invested in the wellbeing of every individual who contributes to keeping our ecosystem running, starting with the riders. These rest stations, launched as part of our summer campaign for the fourth year in a row, refl ect our continued efforts to ensure safe and comfortable working conditions for riders all year long.”

He added: “As part of our day-to-day operation, which is powered by a wide network of riders, logistics partners, and support teams, we remain deeply aware of the unique challenges they face on the ground every day. This understanding drives us to provide meaningful support that responds to the nature of their work, with a strong focus on health, wellbeing and improving the overall work environment.” Although talabat riders are hired through logistics partners, Al-Ghanim confirmed that the talabat remains responsible for ensuring they receive insurance coverage, summer kits, and regular access to road safety workshops and health screenings. He emphasized that riders are core contributors to the reliable, high-quality service that talabat delivers to its customers, and as such, remain a top priority within the company’s wellbeing efforts. It’s worth noting that the fully equipped rest station initiative rolled out across Kuwait is just one of several efforts talabat has launched during the summer to support rider wellbeing and promote safer, more comfortable working conditions on the road. Through initiatives like these, talabat continues to lead by example, demonstrating how companies can adopt a people-first approach rooted in long-term commitment to those at the heart of the delivery ecosystem.

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