South Korea Producer Prices Rise 0.2% in August 
Wall Street Mixed as Treasury Yields Rise After Fed Hike 
Supertanker Orders Surge as US-Iran War Reshapes Oil Trade 
Fed Rate Hike Threatens Housing as U.S. Growth Leans on AI, Citi Says 
Yen Sinks as BOJ Rate Hike Fails to Impress Markets 
Venezuela Nears Deal to Move $4 Billion in Gold to New York Fed 
Asian Stocks Rise as Oil Falls, BOJ Rate Decision in Focus 
Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments Hit Six-Month High as U.S. Clears Mines 
Asian Gold Stocks Rise as Bullion Rebounds on Softer Dollar 
Oil Prices Rise as Houthi Strikes on Riyadh Fuel Middle East Tensions 
Bessent Presses Japan on Fiscal Policy as Yen Struggles 
Mexico Pushes for US Trade Deal Before Midterms 
Europe Jet Fuel Deficit Drives South Korean Imports to Four-Year High 
BOJ Raises Interest Rate to 31-Year High as Yen Weakens 
Yen Slides After BOJ Rate Hike as Dollar Holds Near Seven-Week High 
Gold Prices Rise as Oil and Treasury Yields Fall 
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Asian stock markets edged higher on Monday as strong demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure supported semiconductor shares, while oil prices eased despite heightened Middle East tensions following a Houthi attack on Riyadh.
Trading volumes were subdued with Japanese markets closed for the Silver Week holiday through Wednesday. The dollar held near 157.00 yen as investors remained alert for possible intervention after the yen strengthened on Friday following reported currency-market rate checks by Japanese authorities.
Japan’s Nikkei futures gained 0.5%, while South Korea’s technology-heavy market climbed 1.1%. MSCI’s broad Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan advanced 0.3%. U.S. stock futures also moved higher, with S&P 500 futures gaining 0.3% and Nasdaq futures rising 0.4%.
European futures were broadly positive, although global bond markets remained under pressure. U.S. two-year Treasury yields have jumped 36 basis points over the past two weeks to 4.7604%, their highest level since mid-2024.
The Federal Reserve’s hawkish guidance has strengthened expectations for further monetary tightening. Futures markets indicated a 56% probability of another Fed rate hike in October, while investors largely expect an additional increase by year-end. Bank of America analysts maintained their forecast for rate hikes in October and December, citing resilient consumer spending and persistent inflation pressures.
In currencies, the euro traded around $1.1477 after losing nearly 1% last week. European bonds also remained in focus after French debt risk premiums widened sharply, while Germany faced political uncertainty following Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives’ weak election performance.
Oil remained above $100 a barrel but edged lower as expectations that Saudi Arabia could restore flows through its damaged East-West pipeline offset geopolitical concerns. Brent crude slipped 0.2% to $103.68 a barrel, while U.S. crude fell 0.3% to $100.02.
Meanwhile, higher bond yields pressured gold, with the precious metal declining 0.2% to about $4,370 an ounce. Investors are also watching President Donald Trump’s UN General Assembly appearances this week ahead of his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
