Oil prices fall back to pre-conflict levels, Asian stock markets surge, Ryanair’s adjustment of child seat fees draws attention

⑴ The Brent crude oil price hit an intraday low of $72.24 per barrel, falling below the pre-Iran conflict level. Since the United States and Iran initiated peace negotiations, oil prices have continued to decline. The shipping volume through the Strait of Hormuz has doubled to the highest since the end of February, and the restoration of satellite signals has further eased concerns over supply disruptions.⑵ Asia-Pacific stock markets surged across the board, with the Nikkei Index soaring by 4.6% and South Korea's KOSPI up by over 6%. The retreat in oil prices, combined with quarterly profits from chip giant Micron exceeding expectations, boosted confidence in AI-related sectors, significantly reviving risk appetite. Europe's STOXX 600 followed suit, rising by 0.64%.⑶ The British retail sector deteriorated further in June. According to a CBI survey, retail sales fell below seasonal norms, with retailers attributing this to weak consumer confidence and rising cost pressures. Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist of the Bank of England, called for the pension system to introduce a domestic investment preference to help startups access growth capital.⑷ Ryanair announced an adjustment to its family seating policy, allowing adults traveling with young children to select seats for free at the rear of the cabin in future bookings. Previously, the UK Competition and Markets Authority investigated whether the airline's approximate £8 seat selection fee for parents violated consumer regulations.⑸ UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves warned that Middle East conflicts would drag down economic growth this year. Although GDP grew by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter in Q1, a 0.1% contraction occurred in April. Energy debt has reached a record high, with average household electricity arrears at £1,876 and gas arrears at £1,623.⑹ easyJet rejected Castlelake's £4.9 billion acquisition offer but agreed to open limited commercial information in hopes of securing a higher bid. Its share price responded by rising 8%. Upward revisions to South African crop forecasts and Canadian employment data are among other fundamental factors providing multidimensional references for global asset pricing.