Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian stock markets slipped Thursday as investors sought safe-haven assets amid rising geopolitical tensions. Concerns over possible U.S. involvement in the escalating Israel-Iran air war drove demand for gold and the Japanese yen.
President Donald Trump fueled uncertainty, saying, “I may do it. I may not do it,” when asked if the U.S. would join Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump approved strike plans but is holding off to see if Iran halts its nuclear ambitions.
Japan’s Nikkei dropped 0.8%, pressured by the yen’s 0.2% rise to 144.92 per dollar, which dampens exporter earnings. Taiwan’s benchmark fell 0.9%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.8%.
Gold rose 0.3% to $3,378 per ounce. Brent crude edged down to $76.32, still close to Friday’s 4.5-month high of $78.50. U.S. S&P 500 futures were down 0.4%, although American markets were closed for a holiday.
“Markets remain edgy,” said Kyle Rodda, senior analyst at Capital.com. “Speculation—possibly encouraged by the Trump administration—that the U.S. will intervene in Iran is keeping volatility high. Any strike risks broader conflict, threatening global energy supply and economic stability.”
The U.S. dollar also gained, rising 0.1% to $1.1472 per euro and 0.2% to $1.3398 versus the pound. The Swiss franc dipped 0.1% to 0.8193 per dollar ahead of policy announcements by the Bank of England and Swiss National Bank. The BOE is expected to hold rates steady, while the SNB may cut by 25 basis points.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged and signaled two potential cuts this year. However, Chair Jerome Powell warned that Trump’s aggressive tariffs could fuel “meaningful” inflation, complicating the path for easing.
