Bank of Japan Eyes April Rate Hike Despite Inflation Dip, ING Says 
Asian Currencies Stay Muted as Dollar Holds Firm Amid Iran Uncertainty 
Gold Prices Climb as Middle East Ceasefire Talks Stir Market Optimism 
Australia's Inflation Eases in February but Core Pressures Persist 
Oil Prices Rebound as Iran Denies U.S. Talks, Middle East Tensions Persist 
Gold Prices Surge on U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Reports 
Middle East War Rattles Global Markets as Oil Tops $100 and Dollar Surges 
Bank of Japan Officials Signal Continued Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Concerns 
Suspicious Oil Market Trades Precede Trump's Iran Peace Post by 15 Minutes 
U.S. Dollar Weakens as Trump Signals Iran Deal Possibility 
Iran-Israel Missile Strikes Continue Amid Mixed Signals on U.S.-Iran Diplomacy 
Japan's Private Sector Growth Slows in March Amid Rising Costs and Middle East Uncertainty 
Japan Eyes Oil Futures Intervention to Stabilize Yen Amid Middle East Crisis 
UK Consumer Confidence Weakens Amid Middle East Conflict and Rising Living Costs 
Oil Prices Rebound as Iran Denies U.S. Talks Amid Gulf War Supply Fears 
Wall Street Slides as Iran War Uncertainty, Oil Surge, and AI Fears Rattle Markets 
Asian stock markets opened the week on shaky ground as renewed U.S.-China trade tensions rattled investor confidence. Despite signs of stabilization in Wall Street futures, markets across Asia saw sharp fluctuations. A trading holiday in Japan and the United States added to the volatility, while uncertainty in global politics weighed on sentiment.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose 100% tariffs on China from November 1 spooked markets, though he later adopted a more conciliatory tone, saying the U.S. did not want to “hurt” China. Beijing defended its recent export restrictions on rare earth elements as a necessary response to U.S. actions but refrained from announcing new tariffs. Analysts at Goldman Sachs, including chief economist Jan Hatzius, expect a temporary extension of the current tariff pause with limited concessions on both sides, though risks of higher tariffs remain.
Political instability in Japan further unsettled markets as doubts grew over the ascension of LDP leader Sanae Takaichi to the prime ministership. The yen rebounded sharply, leading to a 5% drop in Nikkei futures on Friday, though futures later regained 1.3% to trade at 46,690. Meanwhile, South Korea’s benchmark slipped 2.1%, Australia fell 0.5%, and MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index dropped 0.6%.
In the U.S., S&P 500 futures climbed 1.1% and Nasdaq futures rose 1.6% as investors looked ahead to the start of earnings season, with major banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup set to report. Analysts expect an 8.8% year-on-year earnings increase for S&P 500 companies, essential for sustaining high market valuations.
European markets showed modest recovery, with Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.2%, DAX up 0.4%, and FTSE steady. In currency trading, the dollar strengthened 0.5% to 151.98 yen, while the euro held at $1.1607. Gold hit a record high of $4,059 per ounce amid geopolitical uncertainty, and oil prices rose over 1% on hopes of a U.S.-China compromise.
