Nikkei 225 Hits Record High Above 56,000 After Japan Election Boosts Market Confidence 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
Asian Markets Surge as Japan Election, Fed Rate Cut Bets, and Tech Rally Lift Global Sentiment 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Lee Seung-heon Signals Caution on Rate Hikes, Supports Higher Property Taxes to Cool Korea’s Housing Market 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Gold and Silver Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Markets Eye Key U.S. Economic Data 
Global equity markets surged to new records on Thursday, driven by expectations of imminent U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts, even as inflation data came in hotter than forecast. MSCI’s world stocks index climbed 0.72% to 971.72, its second straight record high, while Wall Street’s Dow Jones rose 1.36% to 46,108.00, the S&P 500 gained 0.85% to 6,587.47, and the Nasdaq advanced 0.72% to 22,043.08.
The latest U.S. Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August, the largest jump in seven months, fueled by higher housing and food costs. However, weekly jobless claims surged by 27,000 to 263,000, their highest since October 2021, signaling labor market weakness. This shift reinforced market conviction that the Fed will begin a rate-cutting cycle at its meeting next week. Traders fully priced in a quarter-point cut, with odds of additional cuts in October and December climbing to 86% and 79% respectively, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
U.S. Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year note briefly dipping below 4%, while the dollar weakened against the euro, yen, sterling, and other major currencies. The euro rose 0.38% to $1.1738, and sterling gained 0.37% to $1.3579.
In Europe, the STOXX 600 closed up 0.6% after the ECB left rates unchanged at 2% and trimmed inflation forecasts.
Commodity markets turned lower, with U.S. crude sliding 2.04% to $62.37 a barrel and Brent falling 1.66% to $66.37 on demand concerns. Spot gold edged down 0.13% to $3,635.83 an ounce after recent record highs.
Markets remain locked in a tug of war between inflation pressures and weakening labor conditions, but investor sentiment is firmly tilted toward monetary easing, keeping equities buoyant despite global uncertainties.
