Top Overnight News US and Iranian officials are set to hold peace negotiations in Doha today, but uncertainty hangs over the meeting. Donald Trump declined to say whether he expected a breakthrough and Iran has yet to confirm it’ll attend. Iran reiterated its determination to maintain control over maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. BBG The unexpectedly rapid retreat in energy prices in the past week has further taken pressure off European Central Bank policymakers ‌to lift interest rates next month but the case for a small hike later on remains firm, four sources told Reuters. RTRS China’s manufacturing activity expanded in June after remaining flat last month, thanks in part to resilient exports amid robust global demand for artificial-intelligence and green products. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index edged up to 50.3 this month from May’s 50.0. WSJ China has lifted some restrictions on oil-product exports in the past week, rolling back measures introduced to safeguard domestic supplies shortly after the war began in the Middle East. BBG Political pressure on the BoJ to slow its interest rate hikes is growing amid a push by Sanae Takaichi's government to restore dovish policymakers to the bank, a shake-up that could change its long-term policy direction. RTRS French and Italian inflation cooled more than expected in June, suggesting price pressures are beginning to soften amid falling energy costs due to easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. WSJ US retailers have brought forward orders from China by four-to-six weeks to secure their inventories for Black Friday and Christmas holiday sales before expected tariff hikes later this year, shipping executives said. RTRS Companies investing most heavily in AI are adding workers faster than their peers, according to new research that challenges predictions of broad AI-driven job losses. FT ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane said knock-on effects from higher energy prices will take a while to show up and that policymakers won’t lock themselves into a rates path. BBG US House Speaker Johnson said no veto is expected for the housing legislation and that the housing bill will become law, while he noted that President Trump has yet to decide on signing the bipartisan housing package: POLITICO.(zerohedge)