The Malaysian ringgit strengthened in early trade on Friday, rising to 4.0705/0805 against the US dollar from the previous close. The move followed a sharp downside surprise in US June nonfarm payrolls, which rose by 57,000 versus a 114,000 consensus, alongside downward revisions to April and May. The ringgit also gained against the British pound, Japanese yen, euro, Philippine peso, Indonesian rupiah, Thai baht and Singapore dollar.

Most main futures contracts in China opened higher in early trading, with more gainers than losers. Palladium rose more than 4%, while lithium carbonate and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) gained more than 3%. Platinum, Shanghai silver and methanol climbed more than 2%, and asphalt and Shanghai gold rose nearly 2%, according to Jin10.

In a report released in July 2026, the International Monetary Fund said tokenization could reshape financial settlement and strengthen financial stability. The statement underscores tokenization’s shift from a crypto-industry narrative toward infrastructure increasingly recognized by global financial authorities. The report did not single out specific projects or protocols, but highlighted cross-chain interoperability, compliant anchoring, and coordination with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Australian regulators have tightened restrictions on self-managed super fund (SMSF) lending for new residential projects, prompting concerns about developers’ access to finance. Industry groups are calling for an exemption for new-home projects to support the government’s goal of building 1.2 million homes, amid a downturn in dwelling approvals. Data cited in the debate point to earlier APRA investor-loan limits, with analysis of ABS figures by REA Group showing apartment approvals fell about 25% at the time. With commercial-property SMSF loans currently exempt, interest and presales for small industrial warehouse-style assets have risen, affecting domestic banks, listed homebuilders and commercial property REITs.

Oil prices edged lower after crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz continued to rise. The increase added to expectations of looser near-term supply, according to Bloomberg. The move came as US-Iran talks continue, but the report did not cite any breakthrough in the negotiations or any easing of supply-disruption risks.

Cardano’s ADA rose more than 8% in a day to $0.1588, lifting its market value to about $5.78 billion as daily trading volume neared $500 million. The move followed the launch of an ADA Pay plugin that gives more than seven million merchants the ability to accept ADA payments. The tool is built around Cardano’s eUTXO model, allowing fees and expected execution outcomes to be checked before a transaction is submitted. The update was described as a step toward real-world payments, though actual merchant adoption was not confirmed.

Huatai Securities said a report claims the United States is drafting a ban targeting China-made, grid-connected photovoltaic-plus-energy-storage inverters. The measure could be implemented by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), according to 36Kr. Huatai Securities said the policy focus may center on communications and network connectivity security if enacted.

Wheat futures ended mixed Thursday, with Chicago SRW posting small losses while KCBT HRW advanced, including a 3 1/2-cent gain in the September contract. USDA weekly export sales data showed 2026/27 wheat sales of 300,060 MT for the week ended June 25, down 48.79% from the same week last year and the lowest total so far this marketing year. Saudi Arabia also issued a tender to buy 655,000 MT of wheat for delivery this fall.