US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Most Asian stock markets advanced Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates and signaled further easing, boosting investor sentiment across the region.
The Fed reduced its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 4.00–4.25%, its first cut since December, and projected two more reductions this year. Chair Jerome Powell said the move was aimed at “managing risks” amid signs of a softer U.S. labor market. Traders raised bets that U.S. rates could fall below 3.5% by 2026, fueling global risk appetite.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 1.2% to a record 45,296.21, supported by technology and energy shares, while the broader TOPIX rose 0.6%. A weaker yen also lifted exporter stocks. South Korea’s KOSPI gained 1%, led by chip giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, amid renewed AI optimism.
In China, the Shanghai Composite advanced 0.5% to a decade-high, while the CSI 300 added 0.3%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat after sharp gains earlier in the week. Reports that Beijing directed domestic firms to halt Nvidia AI chip purchases weighed on sentiment.
Elsewhere, Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged up 0.2%, and India’s Nifty 50 futures rose 0.2% ahead of market open.
Bucking the regional trend, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7%, dragged by steep losses in the mining sector. Data showed employment fell by 5,400 in August, with a sharp drop in full-time jobs, reinforcing expectations of further Reserve Bank of Australia rate cuts.
New Zealand’s NZX 50 slipped nearly 1% after GDP shrank 0.9% in Q2, far worse than forecasts. Annual GDP contracted 0.6%, increasing pressure on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to accelerate easing.
