Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Vietnam’s November Trade Sees Monthly Decline but Strong Year-on-Year Growth 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Austria’s AA Credit Rating Affirmed as Fitch Highlights Stable Outlook 
U.S. Stocks Rise as Cooler Inflation Boosts Hopes for Fed Rate Cut 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
U.S. Stocks End Week Higher as Markets Anticipate Fed Rate Cut 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Most Asian stocks edged lower on Thursday due to growing uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and weak economic indicators, though Hong Kong and South Korea bucked the trend with tech-driven gains.
Investor sentiment remained cautious as Wall Street closed mixed after soft U.S. labor data and concerns over escalating tariffs under President Donald Trump. Trump is expected to hold a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, which may revive stalled trade negotiations. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1% in Asian trading.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.4% and the TOPIX shed 0.8%, dragged down by weaker-than-expected April wage growth, raising doubts about Japan’s consumption recovery. Australia’s ASX 200 also slipped 0.1% following disappointing April trade data, reflecting a sharp decline in commodity exports. Singapore’s Straits Times index remained flat, while India’s Gift Nifty 50 futures also signaled a muted open ahead of a possible 25 basis point rate cut by the Reserve Bank.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1%, lifted by gains in major tech stocks such as Alibaba, Meituan, and BYD Electronic. SMIC jumped 2.5%, tracking overnight gains in U.S. tech as falling Treasury yields and AI optimism supported global chipmakers. Taiwan’s TSMC added 0.2%, while South Korea’s SK Hynix and Samsung surged 5.4% and 3.3%, respectively.
China’s mainland indexes lagged, with both the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite down 0.1%. Despite a better-than-expected Caixin services PMI, weak manufacturing data limited gains. Market watchers expect more stimulus from Beijing amid the ongoing U.S.-China trade rift.
South Korea’s KOSPI led regional markets, climbing 2% to an 11-month high on post-election optimism and a strong tech sector. The recent victory of President Lee Jae-myung ended months of political uncertainty, further boosting investor confidence.
