Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Markets Surge as Japan Election, Fed Rate Cut Bets, and Tech Rally Lift Global Sentiment 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
Yen Slides as Japan Election Boosts Fiscal Stimulus Expectations 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
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.
