Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Most Asian currencies edged higher on Tuesday, buoyed by optimism surrounding improving U.S.-China trade relations and expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut later this week. The U.S. dollar weakened slightly as traders awaited the Fed’s two-day meeting, where policymakers are widely expected to reduce interest rates by at least 25 basis points amid signs of cooling inflation and a softer labor market.
The Japanese yen led regional gains, recovering from recent losses as investors focused on a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as the Bank of Japan’s upcoming policy announcement. The yen’s USD/JPY pair slipped 0.3%, reflecting renewed demand for the safe-haven currency.
In South Korea, the won lagged behind its peers even as third-quarter GDP exceeded expectations, supported by stronger exports following an earlier trade deal with Washington. The USD/KRW pair rose 0.4%. Across the region, currencies traded within a narrow range, maintaining momentum from Monday’s gains after positive signals in U.S.-China trade negotiations lifted market sentiment.
The Chinese yuan also firmed, with the USD/CNY pair easing 0.1%—hovering near its strongest level since November 2024. The yuan’s resilience has been underpinned by firm midpoint fixes from the People’s Bank of China, as Beijing aims to enhance the competitiveness of its exports. Traders remained focused on the anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, expected to build on the recently agreed trade framework.
Elsewhere, the Australian dollar rose 0.1%, while the Singapore and Taiwan dollars edged slightly lower. The Indian rupee weakened modestly after crossing the 88-per-dollar mark, with markets monitoring trade discussions between Washington and New Delhi amid ongoing tariff pressures.
Overall, sentiment remained cautious but optimistic as investors awaited both the Trump-Xi summit and the Fed’s policy direction.
