Wall Street Ends Higher as S&P 500, Nasdaq Extend Gains Ahead of Holiday Week 
Platinum Price Surges Past $2,000 as Demand and Supply Dynamics Tighten 
Japan Plans $189 Billion Bond Issuance as Record Budget Signals Expansionary Fiscal Policy 
Taiwan Stock Market Ends Higher as Semiconductor and Energy Shares Lead Gains 
Asian Stocks Rise as Wall Street Tech Rally Lifts Markets, Yen Slumps Despite BOJ Rate Hike 
Gold Prices Surge to Record Highs as Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Safe-Haven Demand 
IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement With Egypt, Opening Path to $3.8 Billion in Funding 
U.S. Dollar Slips as Yen Finds Support on Intervention Signals and Geopolitical Risks Rise 
China Keeps Benchmark Lending Rates Steady as Economic Outlook Remains Cautious 
Why U.S. Coffee Prices Are Staying High Despite Trump’s Tariff Rollbacks 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady After S&P 500 Hits Record on Strong Economic Data 
China’s Power Market Revamp Fuels Global Boom in Energy Storage Batteries 
Asian Stock Markets Trade Flat as Holiday Liquidity Thins and BOJ Minutes Watched 
Global Markets Rise as Tech Stocks Lead, Yen Strengthens, and Commodities Hit Record Highs 
RBA Signals Possible Interest Rate Hike in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Oil Prices Ease in Asia as Geopolitical Risks Clash With Weak Demand Outlook 
BOJ Governor Signals Gradual Rate Hikes as Japan’s Inflation Nears 2% Target 
The U.S. dollar hovered near a three-month low on Wednesday as escalating trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment. U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China took effect, prompting retaliatory measures. The euro surged to a near four-month peak at $1.0637 after Germany announced a 500-billion-euro infrastructure fund. Sterling also held firm near a three-month high at $1.2786.
China’s yuan remained steady in offshore trading following a 0.7% rally, as Beijing reaffirmed its 5% economic growth target at the National People’s Congress. Meanwhile, crude oil hit a six-month low, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) falling 0.6% to $67.83. Bitcoin stabilized at around $87,000 after a volatile week.
Asian markets saw mixed movements. Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 0.9%, while Japan’s Nikkei slipped 0.2% after early gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng futures pointed to a 0.6% rise. In the U.S., the S&P 500 fell 1.2% overnight, but futures rebounded 0.6%. MSCI’s world equity index inched up 0.1% but was still down 1.9% for the week.
“The uncertainty is keeping investors cautious,” said Kyle Rodda, senior financial markets analyst at Capital.com. “American businesses and consumers are likely feeling the same.”
The U.S. dollar index was steady at 105.60, recovering from a 1.9% two-day slump that pushed it to 105.49, its lowest since December 6. China’s offshore yuan slipped 0.1% to 7.2604 per dollar.
Germany’s proposed infrastructure fund and eased borrowing rules signal economic shifts, while global markets remain on edge amid ongoing trade conflicts.
