Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High as Yen Approaches 160 
US 10-Year Treasury Yield at 6% Emerges as New Market Risk Threshold 
U.S. Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Oil, Treasury Yields Surge 
Oil Prices Jump 3% as Houthi Attack Revives Supply Fears 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
U.S. 10-Year Treasury Yield Hits 2007 High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Gold Holds Near $4,275 as Rising Treasury Yields Fuel Fed Rate Hike Bets 
China’s ‘Lipstick King’ Says AI Won’t Replace Livestream Hosts 
Japan Private-Sector Growth Slows as Domestic Demand Weakens 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
Wall Street Falls as Treasury Yields Surge, Oil Rebounds on Iran Tensions 
Asian Stocks Fall as Surging Bond Yields Rattle Markets 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
RBI Uses $10 Billion Currency Swaps to Drain Excess Rupee Liquidity 
US, China Extend Trade Truce to Jan. 10 Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
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Asian stock markets traded in a choppy, directionless pattern on Friday as surging crude oil prices tied to escalating Middle East tensions rattled investor confidence across the region. The uncertainty followed a weak session on Wall Street, where major indices closed lower amid renewed fears that energy-driven inflation could delay Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. However, U.S. futures nudged higher during Asian trading hours, offering some relief.
Crude oil remained the central market mover after prices briefly spiked to nearly $119 per barrel on Thursday, fueled by concerns over potential supply disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel was supporting U.S. efforts to help reopen the strategic waterway. Prices retreated from those highs but the earlier surge continued to unsettle markets, particularly in Asia where many economies are heavily dependent on oil imports.
Among regional benchmarks, South Korea's KOSPI outperformed with a 0.5% gain, buoyed by strength in the technology sector, and was on track for a weekly advance of more than 5%. Meanwhile, Singapore's Straits Times Index slipped 0.3%, and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.2% lower. Japanese markets were closed for a public holiday, while futures linked to India's Nifty 50 rose 0.5%.
In China, the People's Bank of China held its loan prime rates steady for the tenth consecutive month, keeping the one-year rate at 3.00% and the five-year mortgage-linked rate at 3.50%, consistent with analyst expectations. Despite the predictable policy decision, Chinese equities declined, with the Shanghai Composite falling 0.3% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropping 0.7%. Alibaba shares led losses in Hong Kong, tumbling 5% after the e-commerce giant reported a profit decline attributed to heavy investment spending and sluggish online retail performance.
Global investor sentiment remained cautious following the Federal Reserve's latest signals that persistent oil price inflation could push back the timeline for monetary easing, prompting markets to scale back near-term rate cut expectations.
