The dollar index (DXY) slid to 95.5 at the start of the year before rising above 101 by mid-year, up nearly 3% in 1H. Major pair moves in 1H: EUR/USD -2.7%; GBP/USD -1.4%; USD/CAD +3.4%; USD/CHF +2.0%; USD/JPY +3.8% (yen at a 40‑year low); NZD/USD -1.4%; AUD/USD +3.7% (notable outperformance). Offshore yuan (CNH) gained 2.7% vs USD. USD/RUB fell 0.5%. USD/MXN dropped nearly 3%, supported by elevated Mexican domestic interest rates.

Regulators circulated an internal notice to securities firms identifying four nascent problems in recent branch setups: insufficient necessity, unclear business‑scope delineation, separation of registered address from operating office, and weak implementation of centralized management. The notice sets explicit rules for branch establishment, filing and centralized management and orders three corrective actions: fully assess necessity and establish branches lawfully and orderly; enforce centralized, unified management, operations and controls; and clearly define business scopes to prevent intra‑industry competition and conflicts of interest.

Decision Desk HQ projects Melat Kiros has defeated incumbent Representative Diana DeGette to win the Democratic primary in Colorado's 1st Congressional District.