Russia Stocks Close Flat as MOEX Hits 1-Month High 
UK Job Market Shows Persistent Weakness Ahead of November Budget 
Global Currencies Steady Ahead of Key Central Bank Decisions 
Canada Stocks Steady as Markets Await Fed and BoC Decisions 
ECB Signals Steady Rates Ahead as Policymakers Warn of Inflation Risks 
Austria’s AA Credit Rating Affirmed as Fitch Highlights Stable Outlook 
Asian Markets Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Rate Cut and Global Policy Decisions 
Trump Meets Mexico and Canada Leaders After 2026 World Cup Draw Amid USMCA Tensions 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Decision; Aussie Dollar Edges Higher 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Australia’s Business Conditions Ease in November as Capacity Constraints Persist 
U.S. Stocks Rise as Cooler Inflation Boosts Hopes for Fed Rate Cut 
Holiday Economic Questions: What Bank of America Says You Should Expect 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Hold Near Two-Week Highs as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut and Monitor Geopolitical Risks 
China Warns of Rising Global Risks as Tariff Pressures Intensify in 2025 
U.S. stocks ended higher Friday, securing a second consecutive week of gains as strong jobs data and signs of a potential thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions lifted investor sentiment. The Dow Jones rose 564.47 points (1.39%) to 41,317.43, the S&P 500 added 82.54 points (1.47%) to 5,686.68, and the Nasdaq gained 266.99 points (1.51%) to 17,977.73.
April’s U.S. payrolls report showed 177,000 jobs added, exceeding forecasts and keeping unemployment steady at 4.2%. Despite earlier concerns stemming from a GDP contraction—triggered by a surge in tariff-related imports—the labor data signaled resilience. Strategists noted the slowdown in job growth was milder than expected post-tariff announcements.
Markets also reacted positively to news that Beijing is considering Washington’s offer to reopen trade talks after President Trump’s imposition of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. While the trade war remains unresolved, the partial rollback of tariffs helped U.S. indexes rebound. The S&P 500 is now up 0.3% since Trump’s April 2 "Liberation Day" tariffs announcement, and both the S&P and Dow marked their longest winning streaks since 2004 and 2023, respectively.
Big tech delivered mixed performances. Apple fell 4% after cutting its buyback program and warning of $900 million in added costs from tariffs. Meta jumped 4.3%, Nvidia rose 2.6%, while Amazon dipped 0.1%. In energy, Chevron gained 1.6% and ExxonMobil edged up 0.4% on solid earnings.
Block plunged 20% on weak guidance, and Take-Two Interactive dropped 7% after delaying "Grand Theft Auto VI" to 2026. Advancers outpaced decliners by nearly 4-to-1 on the NYSE, reflecting broad market optimism. Trading volume was 16 billion shares, below the recent daily average.
