China’s economic activity remained under pressure. Exports tumbled 14.5% year on year in July, the steepest fall since the start of the pandemic, while imports fell 12.4% on a year-on-year basis.

After the pause in June, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) raised interest rates by 25 basis points in July, taking the federal funds rate to a range of 5.25-5.50%, a 22-year high.

The US Federal Reserve (Fed) paused its rate-hiking stance for the first time in 14 months as it waits to see how the significant hikes already implemented will feed through into the economy.