Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Asian currencies posted modest gains on Thursday, lifted by a weaker U.S. dollar after disappointing ADP payroll data heightened expectations of further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The greenback slipped as the soft labor report signaled deeper cracks in the U.S. job market, with attention now turning to the upcoming nonfarm payrolls data for clearer direction.
The Japanese yen weakened slightly, with USDJPY up 0.1%, following underwhelming wage growth figures that cast doubt on consumer spending strength and Japan’s economic outlook for 2025. Meanwhile, South Korea’s won firmed, with USDKRW down 0.1%, after revised GDP data showed a smaller-than-expected Q1 contraction. Political sentiment also improved after a liberal party victory in the recent presidential election.
The Australian dollar slipped 0.1% against the greenback after April trade data revealed weaker-than-expected performance in key commodity exports. The Singapore dollar traded flat, with USDSGD largely unchanged.
In India, the rupee edged lower ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s widely anticipated interest rate decision. The RBI is expected to cut rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%, its third cut since February, as the central bank looks to support economic growth amid easing inflation. However, analysts remain cautious, projecting the rupee to underperform other Asian currencies in 2025 due to persistent risk aversion.
Markets remain cautious amid global uncertainty, especially surrounding U.S. trade policy under President Trump. His latest move to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50% and a missed deadline for trade deal proposals continue to fuel investor unease. Traders are watching closely for developments in a potential Trump-Xi call, which could shift market sentiment.
