Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
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 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
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 climbed on Monday as investors reacted to stronger-than-expected U.S. job numbers and awaited high-stakes trade talks between the U.S. and China. Wall Street’s Friday rally, driven by the May jobs report, eased concerns over economic fallout from President Trump’s tariff policies, boosting global market sentiment.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index jumped 1.3%, breaching 24,000 for the first time since March. Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.9%. The U.S. dollar slipped 0.3% against the yen to 144.39 after Friday’s 0.9% surge. The euro advanced 0.2% to $1.1422.
Despite market optimism, political unrest in California dampened risk appetite. Over the weekend, President Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles amid ongoing immigration-related protests.
Investors are closely watching trade talks in London where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The meeting will focus on critical minerals, a key area of economic tension, following a rare call between Trump and President Xi Jinping.
May’s U.S. employment report showed 139,000 new jobs, topping forecasts of 130,000 but below April’s 147,000. Attention now shifts to U.S. inflation data due Wednesday, which could influence Federal Reserve rate cut expectations.
Analysts say trade policy remains a major macroeconomic uncertainty. Positive signals from the talks could extend market gains. However, rising social unrest in the U.S. adds caution to the outlook.
Elsewhere, spot gold fell 0.2% to $3,303.19 an ounce, while U.S. crude held steady at $64.56 a barrel after recent gains.
