Asia slumps, Europe holds up after a bruising U.S. session

Global markets split as Japan and South Korea sink while Europe edges higher.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 · Daily Market Updates

Global equities are mixed but mostly weaker outside Europe. Japan’s Nikkei 225 falls 4.0% and South Korea’s Kospi tumbles 10.8%, making them the day’s biggest regional drags in the data. China’s Shanghai Composite also slips 1.2%.

Europe looks steadier. The FTSE 100 rises 0.3%, the DAX adds 0.4%, the CAC 40 gains 0.6%, and the Stoxx 600 edges up 0.4%. Canada’s TSX Comp. falls 1.2%, while Brazil’s Bovespa drops 1.5%.

The move in Europe and the weaker tone in Asia come against a backdrop of higher oil and a newly divided Fed. CNBC says the Fed held rates steady in a 9-3 vote, while separate headlines point to Brent jumping above $90 and the U.S. signaling a harder line on Iran. Those headlines help explain why energy is the standout sector and why broader risk appetite looks shaky.

In FX, the dollar index slips 0.6% to 100.802. EUR/USD rises 0.9% to 1.1472, GBP/USD gains 0.6% to 1.3368, and USD/JPY edges down 0.2% to 163.421. The day reads like a softer dollar, higher oil, and a market still sorting through the Fed and geopolitics.

Further reading

Earlier coverage