Australia’s Business Conditions Ease in November as Capacity Constraints Persist 
Asian Markets Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Rate Cut and Global Policy Decisions 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Faces Uncertainty as Jakarta Reconsiders Key Commitments 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
China Warns of Rising Global Risks as Tariff Pressures Intensify in 2025 
The S&P 500 fell sharply on Tuesday, closing below 5,000 points for the first time in nearly a year, as optimism faded over any delay or softening of U.S. tariffs ahead of a key deadline. The index dropped 1.57% to 4,982.77, losing $5.83 trillion in market value over four days—its steepest decline since its inception in the 1950s. This 12% drop marks the largest four-day percentage loss since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Markets initially rallied more than 4% on Tuesday morning, fueled by hopes that former President Donald Trump would reconsider the tariff hike. However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the tariffs, including a 104% hike on Chinese imports, would go into effect as scheduled. China responded, rejecting the “blackmail” nature of the threats.
Investor sentiment turned sharply negative, with the Dow dropping 320.01 points to 37,645.59 and the Nasdaq sliding 335.35 points to 15,267.91. The CBOE Volatility Index spiked to 52.33, its highest since March 2020, indicating rising fear among investors.
Federal Reserve officials, including San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly, urged caution against rushing rate cuts despite market turmoil, citing a strong U.S. economy and policy uncertainty.
Earnings season begins later this week with major banks like JPMorgan and Wells Fargo set to report. Analysts expect corporate guidance to highlight concerns over the new tariffs’ long-term impact.
Meanwhile, health insurers UnitedHealth and Humana surged 5.4% and 10.7% respectively, following a government decision to raise 2026 Medicare Advantage payment rates by 5.06%.
Market breadth was overwhelmingly negative, with declining stocks outpacing advancers on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. Trading volume surged, with over 23 billion shares changing hands.
