Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian stock markets surged Tuesday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a potential ceasefire between Israel and Iran, boosting investor confidence and risk appetite. South Korea’s KOSPI index led regional gains, jumping 2.5% as shares of Samsung Electronics rose 3.5%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index followed with a 1.8% increase, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed nearly 1%, and the TOPIX rose 0.8%.
Trump revealed the tentative ceasefire through a post on Truth Social, outlining a staged plan starting with a 12-hour pause from Iran, followed by a similar move from Israel, leading to a potential end to hostilities within 24 hours. The announcement came just days after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Tehran’s retaliatory missile attack on a U.S. base in Qatar. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that no ceasefire had been finalized.
Despite the uncertainty, markets responded positively. China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.9%, while the CSI 300 gained 1.1%. Southeast Asian markets also advanced, with Singapore’s Straits Times Index up 0.5%, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite surging over 2%, and the Philippines’ PSEi rallying 2%. India’s Nifty 50 Futures were also up 1% during Asian hours.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 1%, supported by strong corporate news. Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting announced a joint A$2.4 billion (US$1.61 billion) investment in the Hope Downs 2 iron ore project in Western Australia. Each firm will invest US$800 million, with expected annual output of 31 million tonnes by 2027. Rio Tinto’s shares rose on the news, contributing to broader market optimism.
