The offshore yuan rose to around 6.76 per dollar on Monday, its strongest level since mid-June, as easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East reduced safe-haven demand for the US dollar. US Ambassador Mike Waltz said President Trump had paused strikes on Iran for a second consecutive night to facilitate diplomatic efforts, while an Iranian military spokesperson said Tehran had suspended its retaliatory operations. The development signals a tentative easing in tensions after nearly two weeks of reciprocal attacks that had effectively undermined the June ceasefire. On the domestic front, investors are turning their attention to the upcoming Politburo meeting later this week, where President Xi Jinping and other top policymakers are expected to outline priorities for the second half of the year. Expectations for additional policy support have grown after recent economic indicators pointed to an uneven recovery, reinforcing calls for measures to bolster growth and stabilize demand.
