Kyodo: explosion at an AEON shopping center may have been caused by a gas leak.

Distribution: 1 dove, 7 neutral, 10 hawks. Market implication: a hawkish plurality increases the odds of additional tightening should core inflation remain high. Powell (current voter) describes policy as at the high end of neutral or mildly restrictive; labour is stabilising but inflation is still “misbehaving,” so holding may be appropriate. Waller (current voter) needs several consecutive months of lower readings to be confident; continued hot core CPI would require near‑term hikes. Warsh (current voter) says recent inflation prints do not fully reflect underlying inflation and is unsatisfied with indicators; he will consider both balance‑sheet and rate tools. Cook (current voter) prefers more time to see inflation evolve but is prepared to act if it does not fall quickly. Kashkari (2026 voter) expects one rate hike in 2026 and rates to remain unchanged in 2027 (he had previously envisioned a cut by year‑end). Bowman (current voter) is the lone dove, saying it is too early to judge the inflationary impact of the war and that prolonged oil gains would force a reassessment. Williams and Jefferson (current voters) view inflation as likely past its peak and to decline over coming quarters; Jefferson says current policy can support labour while guiding inflation back to 2%. Barr flags uncertainty over how an energy shock will feed into inflation and whether AI will amplify or reduce income/wealth inequality. Several future voters (Paulson 2026, Hammack 2026, Logan 2026, Barkin 2027, Goolsbee 2027, Schmid 2028, Musalem 2028, Collins 2028) broadly say June data are encouraging but not decisive — many want multiple months of disinflation before loosening and some warn inflation persistence would justify continued restriction.

On the evening of the 27th Iraq’s prime minister ordered security agencies to investigate a Saudi defense ministry claim that drones launched from Iraqi territory attacked Saudi Arabia. Baghdad said it will not allow its territory to be used as a launchpad, will pursue legal measures against anyone proven involved, and described relations with Saudi Arabia as firm and based on mutual respect.