{"id":64033,"date":"2026-06-30T21:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T21:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:38:14","slug":"asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/","title":{"rendered":"Asia-Pacific Markets Rally as Geopolitical Tensions Ease; Microsoft Plans Workforce Reductions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/#Microsoft_Targets_Cost_Efficiency_with_New_Layoffs\" >Microsoft Targets Cost Efficiency with New Layoffs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/#Geopolitical_Relief_Boosts_Asian_Equities\" >Geopolitical Relief Boosts Asian Equities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/#Mixed_Economic_Signals_from_Australia_and_South_Korea\" >Mixed Economic Signals from Australia and South Korea<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/#Currency_and_Bond_Market_Volatility\" >Currency and Bond Market Volatility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asia-pacific-markets-rally-as-geopolitical-tensions-ease-microsoft-plans-workforce-reductions\/64033\/#Xiaomi_Solidifies_Position_in_EV_Market\" >Xiaomi Solidifies Position in EV Market<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/MSFT\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"18\" title=\"Stock: MSFT\">Microsoft<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/MSFT\">MSFT<\/a>)<\/strong> is reportedly preparing to cut <strong>under 2.5%<\/strong> of its global workforce, impacting thousands of roles across sales, consulting, and its Xbox gaming division.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Taiwanese stocks (TAIEX)<\/strong> surged over <strong>2%<\/strong>, capping a historic first half of 2026 with a cumulative gain of nearly <strong>60%<\/strong>, driven by massive demand for AI and semiconductors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>President Trump<\/strong> has opted to maintain diplomatic talks with Iran despite being briefed on &quot;all-out war&quot; options, significantly easing immediate geopolitical risk premiums in global markets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Xiaomi (<a href=\"\/stock\/XIACF\">XIACF<\/a>)<\/strong> maintained strong momentum in the EV sector, delivering over <strong>30,000 electric vehicles<\/strong> in China during June, marking its third consecutive month at that volume.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Australia&#39;s building permits<\/strong> fell <strong>1.1%<\/strong> in May, missing economist estimates of a 1.0% gain, though private house approvals rose to their highest level since 2021.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Targets_Cost_Efficiency_with_New_Layoffs\"><\/span>Microsoft Targets Cost Efficiency with New Layoffs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/MSFT\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"18\" title=\"Stock: MSFT\">Microsoft<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/MSFT\">MSFT<\/a>) is planning to eliminate several thousand positions, representing less than <strong>2.5%<\/strong> of its approximately <strong>220,000-person<\/strong> workforce. The reductions are expected to be officially announced next week and will primarily affect the company\u2019s <strong>sales, consulting, and Xbox gaming<\/strong> units. This move follows a historical pattern of <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/MSFT\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"18\" title=\"Stock: MSFT\">Microsoft<\/a> adjusting its headcount at the start of its new fiscal year on July 1 to realign resources toward high-growth areas like <strong>Artificial Intelligence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Relief_Boosts_Asian_Equities\"><\/span>Geopolitical Relief Boosts Asian Equities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Market sentiment across the Asia-Pacific region improved following reports that <strong>President Trump<\/strong> has chosen to stick with diplomatic negotiations regarding Iran\u2019s nuclear program. While military options for &quot;all-out war&quot; remain on the table, the decision to prioritize talks past an <strong>August 18 deadline<\/strong> has lowered the immediate threat of escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. This shift helped the <strong>TAIEX<\/strong> in Taiwan surge <strong>2.5%<\/strong> to close at <strong>46,125.91<\/strong>, while Japan\u2019s <strong>TOPIX<\/strong> advanced <strong>1%<\/strong> to <strong>4,036.03<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mixed_Economic_Signals_from_Australia_and_South_Korea\"><\/span>Mixed Economic Signals from Australia and South Korea<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Australia\u2019s construction sector showed internal divergence as total <strong>building permits fell 1.1%<\/strong> month-over-month in May, a sharper decline than the <strong>-3.4%<\/strong> seen previously but still missing the expected rebound. However, <strong>private house approvals<\/strong> jumped <strong>2.8%<\/strong>, signaling resilience in the detached housing market despite broader volatility. Meanwhile, South Korea\u2019s <strong>KOSPI<\/strong> faced pressure, declining <strong>2%<\/strong> as investors rotated out of Seoul equities following a period of rapid outperformance in the semiconductor space.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Currency_and_Bond_Market_Volatility\"><\/span>Currency and Bond Market Volatility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>People\u2019s Bank of China<\/strong> set the yuan midpoint at <strong>6.8067<\/strong> against the dollar, its strongest level since early 2023, reflecting a preference for currency stability amid global stress. In Japan, government bond yields saw upward pressure, with the <strong>2-year JGB yield<\/strong> increasing to <strong>1.390%<\/strong> and the <strong>5-year yield<\/strong> rising to <strong>1.905%<\/strong>. These moves come as the <strong>Yen<\/strong> remains under pressure, keeping traders on high alert for potential foreign exchange intervention by Japanese authorities.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Xiaomi_Solidifies_Position_in_EV_Market\"><\/span>Xiaomi Solidifies Position in EV Market<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Xiaomi (<a href=\"\/stock\/XIACF\">XIACF<\/a>) continues to defy the &quot;newcomer&quot; label in the automotive industry, confirming that it delivered more than <strong>30,000 EVs<\/strong> in June. The company\u2019s stable delivery system has been bolstered by the dual-line strategy of its <strong>SU7 sedan<\/strong> and the newer <strong>YU7 SUV<\/strong> series. With cumulative deliveries for the first half of 2026 showing steady growth, the tech giant is successfully transitioning into a scaled automaker capable of competing with established players in the Chinese market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Microsoft (MSFT) is reportedly preparing to cut under 2.5% of its global workforce, impacting thousands of roles across 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