Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Asian stocks traded mixed on Friday, weighed down by renewed concerns over U.S. trade tensions following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a steep 35% tariff on Canadian imports. This followed earlier tariffs on South Korea and Japan, raising fears of a broader trade conflict.
Despite strong overnight gains on Wall Street, regional markets largely failed to follow suit, with S&P 500 futures slipping 0.4% in Asian trading. Investors turned cautious as the outlook for global trade darkened.
However, Chinese and Hong Kong stocks bucked the trend. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite gained 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 1.6%. Optimism was fueled by expectations of additional Chinese stimulus, especially after soft inflation data earlier in the week. Sectors like consumer goods and industrials led the gains.
Investor sentiment in Hong Kong also received a boost from Goldman Sachs, which upgraded its rating on the market to Market-Weight, anticipating easing monetary policy and milder U.S. tariffs. WuXi AppTec shares surged 10.5% after projecting strong first-half earnings, becoming the top performer on the Hang Seng.
Tech stocks in the region mirrored Wall Street’s positive momentum, particularly after Nvidia surpassed a $4 trillion valuation. Continued optimism around artificial intelligence supported gains across Asian tech sectors. South Korea’s KOSPI posted a weekly gain of over 4%, though it edged slightly lower on Friday.
Elsewhere, markets retreated. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX slipped up to 0.3%, Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 1.5%, and India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures fell 0.2%, pointing to a weak open. Traders remain hopeful for a potential U.S.-India trade agreement following Trump’s recent comments.
