Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Asian stock markets rose on Thursday, supported by renewed optimism in artificial intelligence and expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut. China’s markets led gains, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged to a fresh record high despite political turmoil.
The Nikkei jumped over 1% to 44,288.47 points, marking its second time above 44,000 this week. The rally followed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation after election losses, fueling hopes for more aggressive fiscal and monetary policies from his successor. Sentiment was further lifted by a U.S.-Japan trade deal cutting tariffs on Japanese auto exports by mid-September. The broader TOPIX index edged up 0.2%, hovering near record highs.
In China, the Shanghai Composite gained 1.1% and the CSI 300 advanced nearly 2%, tracking Wall Street’s rally driven by AI stocks. Oracle’s multibillion-dollar AI contracts boosted global chipmakers, fueling optimism in the sector. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng pared losses to trade 0.3% lower, while its TECH sub-index rebounded from a 1.3% drop to trade flat.
Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.4%, Singapore’s Straits Times Index remained steady, while Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.5% and India’s Nifty 50 traded flat.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ closed at record highs for the second consecutive session, supported by strong tech momentum. U.S. stock futures also traded slightly higher during Asian hours.
Economic data continued to drive investor sentiment. U.S. producer price inflation unexpectedly eased in August, bolstering expectations of a Fed rate cut at its September 17 meeting. Traders now await U.S. consumer price data due later Thursday, which could provide clearer signals on the pace of monetary easing.
