Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian markets mostly declined on Wednesday, echoing Wall Street’s weak overnight performance as hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data and renewed trade tariff threats from President Donald Trump rattled investor sentiment. Most indexes across the region slipped, weighed down by concerns over prolonged Federal Reserve rate hikes and global trade tensions.
Mainland Chinese markets underperformed after a mixed Q2 GDP report fueled fears of an extended economic slowdown. The Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 both dipped 0.2%. However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index defied the regional trend, rising up to 0.8% on strong gains in tech stocks. Optimism surged after Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) confirmed it would resume sales of its sought-after AI chips in China, sparking rallies in local AI giants like Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), and Tencent.
Baidu further gained momentum with a 3% jump in its Hong Kong shares (HK:9888) following news of a global robotaxi partnership with Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER). Analysts say access to Nvidia’s chips could significantly boost China’s AI capabilities through leaders like ByteDance and DeepSeek.
Still, broader gains were limited due to economic worries from the mainland. Across Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX both fell 0.2%, while South Korea’s KOSPI declined 0.7%. Australia’s ASX 200 slid 0.9% on profit-taking near record highs. Singapore’s Straits Times edged slightly higher, and India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures remained flat.
U.S. CPI data reinforced concerns over inflationary pressure from Trump’s trade policies, with the S&P 500 Futures down 0.1% in Asian trade. Trump’s latest move includes imposing 25% tariffs on imports from South Korea and Japan starting August 1, and a 19% duty on Indonesia, raising fears of escalating trade tensions across Asia.
