{"id":65722,"date":"2026-07-31T05:09:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T09:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-update-trump-announces-historic-hamas-disarmament-deal-boj-holds-rates-steady\/65722\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T05:09:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T09:09:05","slug":"global-markets-update-trump-announces-historic-hamas-disarmament-deal-boj-holds-rates-steady","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-update-trump-announces-historic-hamas-disarmament-deal-boj-holds-rates-steady\/65722\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Update: Trump Announces Historic Hamas Disarmament Deal; BoJ Holds Rates Steady"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Donald Trump announces a &quot;historic&quot; agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas<\/strong>, to be implemented in phases alongside an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Bank of Japan (BoJ) maintains its benchmark interest rate at 1.0%<\/strong> and keeps its bond-buying plan unchanged for August, signaling a cautious approach despite rising inflation risks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hong Kong\u2019s Q2 GDP grew by 4.3% year-on-year<\/strong>, missing analyst estimates of 4.9% as the city navigates external headwinds and shifting domestic demand.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Barclays (<a href=\"\/stock\/BARC\">BARC<\/a>) upgrades CVS Group (<a href=\"\/stock\/CVSG\">CVSG<\/a>) to Overweight<\/strong>, significantly raising the price target to 1630p from 1380p following strong sector outlooks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>China to lower domestic flight fuel surcharges starting August 5<\/strong>, a move expected to stimulate summer travel demand amid fluctuating global <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">oil prices<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Trump Announces Gaza Disarmament Accord<\/h2>\n<p>U.S. President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> announced on Thursday that the &quot;Board of Peace&quot; has reached a landmark agreement for the <strong>complete disarmament of Hamas<\/strong> and all other armed groups in Gaza. The deal, mediated by <strong>Egypt<\/strong>, <strong>Qatar<\/strong>, and <strong>Turkey<\/strong>, outlines a phased implementation where <strong>Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)<\/strong> will withdraw from the territory as disarmament milestones are met.<\/p>\n<p>A new <strong>International Stabilization Force<\/strong> is slated to work with a reformed Palestinian police force to maintain security. While the German Foreign Minister welcomed the progress, Israeli officials have expressed skepticism regarding the group&#39;s willingness to surrender heavy weaponry.<\/p>\n<h2>Bank of Japan Holds Policy Steady<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Bank of Japan<\/strong> kept its short-term policy rate unchanged at <strong>1.0%<\/strong> following its July meeting, opting for stability after a series of hikes earlier this year. The central bank also confirmed its <strong>Japanese Government Bond (JGB)<\/strong> buying schedule for August would remain unchanged from July levels, maintaining a monthly purchase volume of approximately <strong>2.5 trillion yen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The decision passed with an <strong>8-1 vote<\/strong>, with board member <strong>Hajime Takata<\/strong> dissenting in favor of a hike to 1.25%. The BoJ slightly lowered its inflation outlook for fiscal 2026 to <strong>2.5%<\/strong> but warned that underlying price risks remain skewed to the upside.<\/p>\n<h2>Hong Kong GDP Growth Underwhelms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Hong Kong&#39;s economy expanded by 4.3%<\/strong> in the second quarter of 2026, falling short of the <strong>4.9% growth<\/strong> projected by economists. While the government highlighted &quot;buoyant external trade&quot; and a <strong>53.4% surge in June exports<\/strong>, the quarter-on-quarter data showed a <strong>0.6% contraction<\/strong>, reflecting a loss of momentum from the first quarter&#39;s 5.9% growth.<\/p>\n<p>Officials noted that while the <strong>AI &quot;super cycle&quot;<\/strong> is benefiting logistics and trade, geopolitical tensions and uncertainties surrounding U.S. monetary policy continue to pose risks to the city&#39;s recovery.<\/p>\n<h2>Corporate and Regional Developments<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Barclays (<a href=\"\/stock\/BARC\">BARC<\/a>)<\/strong> issued a major upgrade for <strong>CVS Group (<a href=\"\/stock\/CVSG\">CVSG<\/a>)<\/strong>, moving the stock from <em>Equal-Weight<\/em> to <em>Overweight<\/em>. The bank&#39;s analysts raised their price target to <strong>1630p<\/strong>, citing improved valuation metrics and a robust outlook for the veterinary services provider.<\/p>\n<p>In China, <strong>CCTV<\/strong> reported that domestic airlines will reduce fuel surcharges effective <strong>August 5<\/strong>. This marks a continued effort to bolster the tourism sector as jet fuel prices ease; surcharges for routes over 800km are expected to drop to <strong>100 yuan<\/strong>, providing relief for summer travelers.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the <strong>European Union<\/strong> has finalized plans to establish a <strong>Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre<\/strong> in <strong>Benghazi, Libya<\/strong>. Funded by <strong>Italy<\/strong> and <strong>Malta<\/strong>, the center aims to curb irregular migration on the busy Mediterranean route by enhancing the coordination of the eastern Libyan authorities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Donald Trump announces a &quot;historic&quot; agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas, to be implemented in phases alongside 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