 Dollar is seeing a modest pullback in today's trading, yet it remains the strongest performer for the week. Market activity has been relatively subdued in the absence of major data or headlines. Traders now turn their attention to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment and inflation expectations data due later today. These numbers could shed light on how recent tariff re-escalations are filtering into household confidence and inflation perceptions. Elsewhere in FX, Loonie is holding second place for the week, while the British Pound follows in third. At the bottom end, Aussie continues to struggle at the bottom, while Yen and New Kiwi also underperform. Euro and Swiss Franc are trading in middle ground. On the trade front, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said today that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent assured him that ongoing tariff negotiations will yield a “good” outcome ahead of the August 1 deadline. Ishiba confirmed he is prepared to speak directly with President Trump if needed to protect Japan’s interests, though no date has been set for such talks. Bessent reinforced the message on social media, saying a good deal is preferable to a rushed one and remains “within the realm of possibility.” The comments suggest some progress behind the scenes, but markets remain cautious given the lack of detail and the short runway before tariffs kick in. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz flagged that any tariff deal between the US and EU will likely be “asymmetrical,” citing American reluctance to include services in the negotiations. Merz stressed the importance of keeping tariffs low on both sides, but acknowledged that perfect balance is unlikely...... | 
