Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian shares climbed for a seventh consecutive month on Friday, driven by strong earnings from Amazon and Apple that lifted Wall Street sentiment and supported U.S. futures. Nasdaq futures surged 1.2%, while S&P 500 futures rose 0.6%, after Amazon reported stellar quarterly results that boosted its shares by 13%, adding over $300 billion in market value. Apple gained 2.3% as upbeat iPhone sales guidance exceeded expectations, offsetting concerns over rising AI-related expenses at Meta and Microsoft.
Six of the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. tech giants have now reported mixed results, with Nvidia—the world’s first $5 trillion company—set to release earnings in three weeks. According to Capital.com analyst Kyle Rodda, improved earnings from Apple and Amazon have brightened market sentiment heading into Asian trade, even as uncertainty lingers over interest rate outlooks and economic data.
MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan gained 0.2%, marking a 1.8% weekly and 4.7% monthly rise. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.1%, capping weekly and monthly gains of 5.2% and 15.5%, respectively. However, Chinese markets lagged as weak October factory data weighed on confidence. The official PMI slipped to 49, below expectations, signaling contraction. Chinese blue chips fell 0.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.3%.
A recent U.S.-China summit between Presidents Trump and Xi resulted in reduced tariffs, resumed U.S. soybean purchases, and continued Chinese rare earth exports, though investors viewed it as a tactical truce rather than a breakthrough.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar hovered near three-month highs at 99.459, supported by steady Treasury yields. The euro edged up to $1.1572 after the European Central Bank held rates at 2%.
Meanwhile, Brent crude slipped 0.5% to $64.67 per barrel, and gold held at $4,033.48 per ounce, despite weekly losses, as investors weighed stronger dollar pressures against safe-haven demand.
