U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
The Nasdaq closed slightly lower on Friday, capping its steepest weekly decline since early April as investors reassessed the rapid gains in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology shares. The index dropped about 3% for the week, while chip and tech-related stocks were the biggest losers. Despite this setback, the Nasdaq remains up more than 50% since April, driven by optimism around AI following President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcements.
Market sentiment cooled after The Financial Times reported Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s warning that China may surpass the U.S. in the AI race. “We’re seeing this AI selloff continue after those comments,” said Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading. “It’s a recalibration of valuations, along with some profit-taking after a strong rally this year.”
All three major U.S. stock indexes opened sharply lower but pared losses later in the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 74.80 points, or 0.16%, to 46,987.10; the S&P 500 gained 8.49 points, or 0.13%, to 6,728.81; while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 49.45 points, or 0.21%, to 23,004.54. Global markets also softened, with MSCI’s world stock index down 0.07% and Europe’s STOXX 600 off 0.55%.
Meanwhile, weaker China trade data highlighted the impact of U.S. tariffs. China’s exports fell 1.1% in October, their worst drop since February. U.S. Treasury yields edged down as consumer sentiment hit its lowest level since mid-2022 amid the ongoing government shutdown. The 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.091%.
The U.S. dollar weakened slightly, with the dollar index down 0.11% to 99.57, while oil and gold prices edged higher. U.S. crude settled at $59.75 per barrel, and Brent rose to $63.63, supported by hopes of energy cooperation between the U.S. and Hungary.
