China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Asian share markets rebounded on Friday, tracking a recovery on Wall Street as a turnaround in technology stocks boosted global risk sentiment. Investors, however, remained cautious ahead of a widely anticipated interest rate hike from the Bank of Japan (BOJ), a move that could trigger volatility in currencies and bond markets.
Market sentiment was also supported by a surprise slowdown in U.S. consumer price inflation, which eased to 2.7%. While the softer inflation print briefly lifted confidence, analysts warned the data may be distorted by the recent U.S. government shutdown and should not be taken at face value. As a result, expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts shifted only slightly, with markets pricing in a 27% chance of a cut in January and a 58% probability by March.
Attention in Asia remained firmly on Japan, where markets are pricing in around a 90% chance that the BOJ will raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%. Investors currently expect only one additional rate hike to 1.0% in 2026, but any signal of faster policy normalization could strengthen the yen while adding pressure to Japanese government bonds. Japan’s latest data showed core consumer inflation holding steady at 3.0% in November, well above the BOJ’s 2% target.
Japan’s Nikkei index rose 0.6%, while South Korean shares climbed 1.2%, supported by strong earnings from chipmaker Micron Technology. The broader MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan gained 0.2%. U.S. stock futures were flat after overnight gains, and Treasury yields steadied near recent highs.
In global markets, central banks sent mixed signals. The Bank of England cut rates by a narrow margin, while the European Central Bank maintained a more hawkish stance, dampening expectations for further easing. Currency markets were largely stable, with the dollar steady against the yen.
Commodities were mixed, as gold prices hovered below recent highs, oil edged higher on geopolitical risks, and industrial metals showed continued demand.
