Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Asian currencies traded within tight ranges on Wednesday as investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve’s highly anticipated interest rate decision. The dollar remained steady after recent gains, while market participants also kept an eye on the upcoming Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy meeting and a scheduled discussion between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Australian dollar stood out, with the AUD/USD pair rising 0.2% to nearly a three-week high. Stronger-than-expected inflation data dampened expectations of further rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia, boosting the currency.
Regional currencies found support in recent sessions amid signs of progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations and growing confidence in a potential Fed rate cut. The dollar index and its futures gained slightly in Asian trading, remaining firm ahead of the Fed’s announcement. Markets expect a 25-basis-point rate reduction as the U.S. economy shows signs of slowing inflation and labor market growth. However, traders are looking to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks for guidance on future monetary policy.
The Japanese yen hovered around 152 per dollar, recovering slightly after hitting an eight-month low. Despite minor strength, the yen remains pressured by expectations that the BOJ will maintain its ultra-loose monetary stance. Analysts anticipate no rate changes, particularly as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration leans toward expansive fiscal policies—a factor weighing further on the yen.
Elsewhere, Asian currencies showed muted movement ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea. The Chinese yuan (USD/CNY) hovered around 7.1, while the Singapore dollar (USD/SGD) edged up 0.1%, and the South Korean won (USD/KRW) rose 0.2%. The Indian rupee (USD/INR) stayed slightly higher above 88.
The meeting between Trump and Xi is expected to ease trade tensions, with potential discussions on fentanyl tariffs, rare earths, and AI chip exports.
