In this week’s episode of Touché Markets, U.S. inflation cools as Tesla and Netflix report earnings, gold faces its worst week, and China tightens rare earth exports. Meanwhile, Japan makes history electing its first female prime minister, and Argentina’s currency crisis returns to the headlines.

Tensions rise as Russia steps up military and space confrontations, while the U.S. government shutdown halts key data releases and threatens growth. In China, regulators tighten control over rating agencies as tech giants ramp up AI investment, and Typhoon Ragasa devastates East Asia. Europe’s markets hit record highs amid trade protectionism and political unrest, while the UK faces slowing growth, manufacturing decline, and renewed security concerns after a Manchester attack.

Gold hits record highs as the U.S. dollar weakens. The people's bank of China plans to ease gold import rules, and Europe faces debt concerns amid weaker business sentiment. In the UK, inflation remains stubborn and businesses are warning that government policies could hinder growth. Meanwhile, oil prices stay subdued as global demand falters.