Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
U.S. Stocks End Week Higher as Markets Anticipate Fed Rate Cut 
Vietnam’s November Trade Sees Monthly Decline but Strong Year-on-Year Growth 
U.S. Stocks Rise as Cooler Inflation Boosts Hopes for Fed Rate Cut 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Fed Meeting Sparks Division as Markets Brace for Possible Rate Cut 
Austria’s AA Credit Rating Affirmed as Fitch Highlights Stable Outlook 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
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.
